Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous organisms that are now seen as emerging human pathogens. NTM infections are very difficult to diagnose and treat, therefore a high index of clinical suspicion is needed for diagnosis. Cutaneous NTM infections have been primarily reported associated with previous invasive procedures. We report the case of a healthy 59-year-old woman who developed recurring abdominal skin lesions caused by Mycobacterium massiliense after she underwent noninvasive cupping therapy. We identified the pathogen using a PCR assay targeting the erm(41) gene of the bacterium. The patient was treated successfully by en bloc excision and long-term antibiotic treatment. This case shows that cutaneous infection with M. massiliense may occur in an immunocompetent person without an antecedent invasive procedure.
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