society and community | February 11, 2026

How is Mycobacterium Marinum diagnosed?

How is Mycobacterium Marinum diagnosed?

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification techniques using Mycobacterium genus-specific primers can be used to diagnose M marinum infection directly in the biopsy sample. Tuberculin skin test using purified protein derivative is positive in 67%-100% of cases.

How common is Mycobacterium Marinum in humans?

Frequency. M marinum infections are rare but well described in the literature. The estimated annual incidence is 0.27 cases per 100,000 adult patients. The infection is typically limited to the skin, mostly involving limbs, but spread to deeper structures has been reported.

How do you treat atypical mycobacterial infection?

Treatment of atypical mycobacterial infections depends upon the infecting organism and the severity of the infection. In most cases a course of antibiotics is necessary. These include rifampicin, ethambutol, isoniazid, minocycline, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, azithromycin and cotrimoxazole.

What is Mycobacterium Marinum infection?

Mycobacterium marinum is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium that causes a tuberculosis-like illness in fish and can infect humans when injured skin is exposed to a contaminated aqueous environment.

Is Mycobacterium Marinum harmful?

marinum infections are usually localized and typically do not spread past the skin in healthy people. Most patients with a normal immune system don’t experience other complications. However, undetected or untreated, the infection may progress and cause deeper and more longstanding infections.

Is Mycobacterium Marinum gram positive?

Gram positive, non-motile, acid-fast, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria with high genomic DNA GC content. Non-pigmented if grown in darkness but bright yellow if grown in light.

Is Mycobacterium Marinum a rapid grower?

The pathogen Mycobacterium marinum, a faster growing close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has a single rRNA operon per genome. FEMS Microbiol Lett.

Is Mycobacterium Marinum contagious?

Are Mycobacterium marinum infections contagious? M. marinum infection is not contagious; it is not spread from person to person. It is also not transmitted in hospitals like other common bacteria.

Is Mycobacterium marinum harmful?

Is Mycobacterium marinum a rapid grower?

Is nontuberculous mycobacteria treatable?

NTM lung disease caused by M. abscessus is usually treated with surgery to remove the infected portion of the lung, followed by drug treatment. MAC patients may also benefit from surgery to remove isolated infections, to stop persistent bleeding, or to remove the most damaged areas of the lung.