Mycobacterium marinum arthritis mimicking rheumatoid arthritis
Lam, A.; Toma, W.; Schlesinger, N.
Journal of Rheumatology 33(4): 817-819
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 16583484 Document Number: 602723
Mycobacterium marinum is an atypical rnycobacterium found in salt and fresh water. M. marinum infection occurs following skin trauma in fresh or salt water and usually presents as a localized granuloma or sporotrichotic lymphangitis. It rarely affects the musculoskeletal system. We describe a patient who presented with subcutaneous nodules and an inflammatory arthritis that was thought to be rheumatoid arthritis, and was treated as such with corticosteroids, methotrexate, and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy, with worsening of his arthritis.