Description

Chronic tropical cutaneous ulcers remain a neglected medical condition in West Africa, particularly Buruli ulcer, which is caused by mycolactone cytotoxin-secreting Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans). Medical management of this highly debilitating and necrotising skin infection may be modified by colonisation and co-infection of the ulcer by opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms, which considerably delays and increases the cost of treatment.