Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing acid-fast bacillus that causes a broad spectrum of cutaneous lesions among infected patients. It usually presents in those who are immunocompromised. This case report describes an 81-year-old man taking mycophenolate mofetil immunosuppression for myasthenia gravis who was admitted to a Canadian tertiary care center presenting with atraumatic disseminated cutaneous M haemophilum. Diagnosis was delayed because a dermatomal rash distribution and positive mpox polymerase chain reaction invoked alternate diagnoses of possible herpes zoster and mpox. This report highlights a novel presentation of M haemophilum and the importance of timely identification among other possible and emerging cutaneous infections.
Peters et al. (Mon,) studied this question.