The role of nontuberculous mycobacteria in cutaneous infections of diabetic patients: a literature review

Background: Diabetes is an important metabolic disease with myriad manifestations and complications, affecting many people. Cutaneous infections impact numerous diabetic patients. Among different bacterial infections in diabetic patients, the infections caused by mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MOTT) eventuate in complications owing to the paucity of accurate detection methods. Methods: The articles reporting nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in cutaneous infections of diabetic patients, published until the end of 2017 were assessed in the present research. Results: The organisms reported from cutaneous infections of diabetic patients are Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium immunogenum, Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium fortuitum. Conclusion: NTM infection, along with prolonged disease cycle, decelerates the healing process in diabetic patients. Considering NTM during infection diagnosis, along with other possible opportunistic bacteria, conduces to accelerating the treatment process. In most cases, clarithromycin and erythromycin have been reported as effective alternatives for the treatment of diabetic patients.