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Medical Author:

Nili N. Alai, MD, FAAD

Nili N. Alai, MD, FAAD

Dr. Alai is an actively practicing medical and surgical dermatologist in south Orange County, California. She has been a professor of dermatology and family medicine at the University of California, Irvine since 2000. She is U.S. board-certified in dermatology, a 10-year-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.

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Medical Editor:

Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Frederick Hecht, MD, lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Hecht is a Pediatrician and Medical Geneticist and is certified by both the American Boards of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics. Dr. Hecht was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. and the Sorbonne at the University of Paris receiving his BA degree cum laude with distinction from Dartmouth.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is Mycobacterium marinum?
• What are other names for Mycobacterium marinum?
• How common is Mycobacterium marinum?
• How does a person get infected with Mycobacterium marinum?
• Who is at risk for Mycobacterium marinum infection?
• What are the symptoms of Mycobacterium marinum infection?
• What tests are available to diagnose the infection?
• How is Mycobacterium marinum infection treated?
• What is the prognosis for those infected with Mycobacterium marinum?
• How do I find a specialist?
• What are possible complications from Mycobacterium marinum?
• Do fish get infected with Mycobacterium marinum?
• What else could it be?
• How can I prevent this infection?
• Mycobacterium Marinum Index

Other conditions may mimic or be confused with M. marinum infections. Possible other diagnosis include common things like bug bites, spider bites, foreign body granuloma, bacterial infections like staph or E. coli, fungal infections, tumors, fungal infections, and others. Additional diagnosis include cowpox infection, leishmaniasis, leprosy, sarcoidosis, and sporotrichosis. More advanced cases may be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, traumatic tendon injury, deep fungal infections, or cancer.

The following steps may help to protect yourself from contracting an infection with M. marinum:

• Avoid fresh or saltwater activities if there are open cuts, scrapes, or sores on your skin, especially in bodies of water where this bacterium is known to exist.



• If you have a weakened immune system, you can reduce the risk of infection by carefully covering cuts, scrapes, or sores during fresh or saltwater activities and while cleaning fish tanks or handling, cleaning, or processing fish.



• Wear heavy gloves (leather or heavy cotton) while cleaning or processing fish, especially fish with sharp spines that may cause cuts, scratches, or sores to the hands and skin. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after fish processing or use a waterless cleanser.



• Wear waterproof gloves while cleaning home aquariums or fish tanks. Wash hands and forearms thoroughly with soap and running water after cleaning the tank, even if gloves were worn.



• Ensure regular and adequate chlorination of swimming pools to kill any bacteria that may be present.