A Case of Hypercalcemia in an Immunocompetent Patient with Disseminated Mycobacterium marinum Infection with a Rain Barrel as the Most Likely Primary Source

Abstract

Infection with Mycobacterium marinum is common in fish, and so human infection usually arises from contact with contaminated water or fish. A solitary papulonodular lesion on a finger or hand is the typical presentation. Disseminated infections are rare and mostly seen in immunocompromised patients. We present a rare case of disseminated M. marinum infection presenting with polyarthritis, tenosynovitis, dactylitis, and (sub)cutaneous and intramuscular lesions in an immunocompetent patient. This case was complicated by hypercalcemia, renal failure and eventually death. A contaminated rain barrel was most likely the primary source of the infection.

Keywords

• mycobacterium marinum
• hypercalcemia
• immunocompetent
• polyarthritis
• polyarteritis nodosa