Abstract: Objective To study the diagnostic value of DNA microarray chip for cutaneous mycobacterial infections. Methods Six skin tissues from clinical cutaneous mycobacterial infections suspected cases were underwent pathogenic detection by traditional bacteria culture method and DNA microarray chip technology. Results All patients had history of aquatic exposure or trauma, the clinical manifestation patterns were single lesion or sporotrichoid infection type. Among 6 suspected cases, there were 5 cases with positive culture of mycobacteria strains, which include 4 strains of Mycobacterium marinum, 1 strain of M. chelonae. The chip examinations were positive in 6 cases, included 5 M. marinum cases and 1 M. chelonae case. Compared with traditional bacteria culture method, DNA microarray chip technology had a higher sensitivity (6/6 vs 5/6) and was less time-consuming. Conclusion The DNA microarray ship technology provided a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive clinical assay, it could be used for mycobacteria species identification of skin tissue samples from cutaneous mycobacterial infections, allowing earlier aetiological diagnosis and pathogen-adapted antimicrobial therapy.

Key words: DNA microarray chip, mycobacterial infections, infectious granuloma, early diagnosis, cutaneous infection