Cutaneous infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare scrofulaceum intermediate: a new pathogenic entity.

The atypical or environmental mycobacterial organisms constitute a large group of potential agents in the pathogenesis of cutaneous infection. The most commonly encountered mycobacterial infection after contact with water is Mycobacterium marinum. We report an unusual case of cutaneous mycobacterial infection caused by a newly described opportunistic mycobacteria, M. avium-intracellulare scrofulaceum intermediate. This case emphasizes the difficulty in distinguishing among the species M. avium-intracellulare, M. scrofulaceum, and M. gordonae.