Background: Mycobacterium chelonae is an uncommon but recognized cause of chronic localized cutaneous infection at a site of penetrating trauma or a surgical wound.
Objective: The problem faced by physicians encountering an infection by M. chelonae is often response to therapy, which may be highly variable.
Methods: We describe an immunocompetent patient who developed a localized infection due to M. chelonae following surgery for a basal cell carcinoma of the lower leg.
Results: The infection responded to treatment with clarithromycin.
Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of clarithromycin and the salient features of M. chelonae infection and its treatment are discussed.