Mycobacterium marinum infection cured by photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Mycobacterium marinum is the cause of swimming-pool granuloma, which most commonly occurs in patients exposed to fish or fish tanks. Mycobacterium marinum contains porphyrins (coproporphyrin III),1 which are activated by appropriate wavelengths of light leading to the development of various cytotoxic compounds that damage essential cellular components. We report a case of M marinum infection treated with blue light, red light, and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Report of a Case A 59-year-old woman was referred to our department with a 1.5-year history of erythematous granuloma on the dorsal surface of her left fifth finger after a burn (Figure 1A). The patient regularly had contact with fish tanks