What illnesses do nontuberculous mycobacteria cause?
Certain kinds of nontuberculous mycobacteria may cause skin infections. These infections may look like open sores, red lumps, or red rashes. The skin infections are usually on the fingers, hands, elbows, knees, and feet. If untreated, nontuberculous mycobacteria may spread to people’s joints or bones. People with weak immune systems have a greater risk of infection spreading to other parts of their bodies. How do you get infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria? People become infected when water containing the bacteria comes into contact with cuts or open sores on the skin. The bacteria may be in swimming pools, aquariums, or coastal waters. People may also get infected by handling infected fish. These fish may also have open sores on their skin. As a result, the illness is nicknamed such things as “fish handler’s disease” and “aquarium handler’s disease.” Nontuberculous mycobacteria that cause skin infections do not spread from one person to another. How are nontuberculous mycobacter
