Transmission of Mycobacterium marinum from fish to a very young child

Mycobacterium marinum causes tuberculosis in fish and can cause skin infections in humans who swim in contaminated water or who have direct contact with infected fish. We report the case study of an 18-month-old girl with M. marinum abscesses, who acquired the infection through indirect contact with a contaminated bucket. Appropriate cleaning of aquarium equipment is very important, especially with young children in the household.