Septic arthritis of ankle with granulomatous change in the abscess wall and bone changes in the lower end of tibia by Mycobacterium abscessus- a case report.

Chronic granulomatous infections are frequently diagnosed as tuberculosis, often supported by histopathological findings. Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM), a type of non-tuberculous mycobacteria, can also produce granulomatous reactions that resemble tuberculosis. RGMs are resistant to standard antituberculous treatment, and microbiological evidence is crucial for determining optimal therapy. This report presents a case of septic arthritis of the right ankle featuring granulomatous reactions in the abscess wall and bone changes in the lower end of the tibia, initially diagnosed clinically as tuberculosis. The infection was microbiologically confirmed to be caused by Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) and was successfully treated.