Atypical Mycobacterial Infection: Diagnostic Difficulties

Atypical mycobacteria infections can enter human skin through wounds and cause local infections. To prove the presence of mycobacterial infection, a skin biopsy and histopathological examination, as well as culture, can be performed, which are the most important things for diagnosis. Histopathological images cannot determine the causative agent, so a special laboratory examination is still needed to confirm it. Because many mycobacteria only grow in special media and special temperatures, clinical suspicion is required so that testing can be carried out properly. Even though culture and PCR methods are used, the results are often negative, so clinico-pathological-laboratory correlation is needed.