School of Medicine Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-24-2025
Abstract
Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum) is a rapidly-growing mycobacterium (RGM) that can lead to a variety of infections affecting the lungs, skin, and soft tissue. Pulmonary infections with M. fortuitum primarily affect individuals with pre-existing lung conditions, although exposure through contaminated water sources, such as pedicures and nail salon whirlpool footbaths, has also been documented. We present a case of a previously healthy young male presenting with respiratory symptoms and systemic signs suggestive of infection. Following extensive diagnostic workup, M. fortuitum was identified in sputum samples, leading to a favorable response to targeted antibiotic therapy. This case underscores the importance of considering M. fortuitum in differential diagnoses of pulmonary infections and skin infections, particularly in patients without known risk factors.
Recommended Citation
Leon, I. Y. M., Alashi, L., Monaco, G. M., & de Ziegler, C. G. (2025). Unveiling Mycobacterium fortuitum Lung Disease: A Case Linked to Pedicure Practices. Cureus, 17(5), e84758. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84758
Publication Title
Cureus
DOI
10.7759/cureus.84758
Academic Level
resident
Mentor/PI Department
Family Medicine
Comments
© Copyright 2025 Mangione Leon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.