Mycobacterium marinum infection complicated by anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy

Abstract

Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis infections in patients taking various tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors have been reported in the literature. We describe sporotrichoid spread of Mycobacterium marinum in a man with Crohn's disease treated with infliximab. After starting ethambutol and rifampicin and discontinuing infliximab, a worsening appeared. M. marinum infection may have a potential local spread and systemic dissemination in patients treated with TNF-alpha inhibitors.