Mycobacterium terrae tenosynovitis

A 72-year-old man was admitted with tenosynovitis of the left forearm and hand. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue showed noncaseating granulomas. Mycobacterial culture produced Mycobacterium terrae complex. M. terrae infection of any site is rare. Analysis of four documented cases and our present case indicates that this organism causes infection in the forearm and hand after probable direct inoculation. It has not disseminated systemically from the site of local infection and may infect otherwise healthy hosts.