Retrospective analysis of non-tuberculous mycobacterial skin infections: diagnostic accuracy, treatment efficacy, and PCR-based species detection in a Chinese primary care hospital

作者：Tianyi Xu, Yingjie Zheng, Ruoning Xue, Ruoyu Li, Wen Zhang, Zaihong Sun, Yinggai Song · 发表于：Journal of Clinical Microbiology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1128/jcm.01065-25 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Mycobacterium research and diagnosis、Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology、Leprosy Research and Treatment

ABSTRACT Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) skin infections present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in resource-limited primary care settings. This retrospective study evaluated the diagnosis and treatment of NTM skin infections at a primary care hospital in Shouguang City, a coastal region of China with high-risk occupational exposure to aquatic environments, from 2021 to 2022. We analyzed 144 patients, using real-time PCR on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples to validate empirical diagnoses based on clinical symptoms, exposure history, and histopathology. Our results demonstrated a high concordance (79.17%) between empirical and molecular diagnoses, confirming the reliability of the primary care hospital’s diagnostic approach. Real-time PCR successfully identified specific NTM species in a subset of cases, with Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacteroides abscessus being the most prevalent. Empirical treatment with combination antibiotics (primarily clarithromycin and rifampicin) was highly effective, achieving a cure rate of 90.97%. This study highlights the effectiveness of integrated clinical-histopathological assessment for managing NTM infections in resource-limited settings and underscores the value of molecular techniques such as PCR in enhancing diagnostic precision and facilitating retrospective research using archived FFPE samples. IMPORTANCE This study addresses a critical gap in managing non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) skin infections...