Mycobacterium monacense: A mycobacterial pathogen that causes infection of the hand

We present a report of a diabetic patient with an infection of his left thumb and thenar eminence. Standard cultures of drainage and tissue biopsy were unrevealing. The infection progressed despite empiric antibacterial agent therapy and multiple debridements. Two intraoperative tissue biopsies revealed a yellow-pigmented, rapidly growing Mycobacterial nontuberculous species. The organism was identified as Mycobacterium monacense, a newly described species. The patient was cured with a 6-week course of clarithromycin and levofloxacin.