Patients with Mycobacterium chelonae skin involvement may have a chronic, nonhealing cellulites or skin ulcer that is slow to spread. Areas of cellulitis associated with the infection are frequently hyperpigmented. Skin nodules, sinus tract, and abscess formation may be present. Sinus tracts and abscesses may drain and appear to resolve, only to recur days to weeks later during the first months of treatment.helonae is an extremely rare cause of pulmonary disease, most respiratory isolates that are identified as M. chelonae/abscessus complex can be reasonably assumed to be M. abscessus isolates2. Identifying RGM to the species level is very important1-3.