Abstract: Objective: To determine the significance of standard application of excision biopsy to improve the detection rate of skin nontuberculous mycobacterium(NTM). Methods: The data of 9 patients who were clinically diagnosed as NTM and performed incisional biopsy during 2021-2024 were analyzed, including acid-fast skin smear, histopathological acid-fast staining and bacterial culture. Results: Among the 9 patients, 8 cases were positive for direct antacid smears in skin abscess or subcutaneous tissue, 6 cases (75%) were positive for tissue culture, and 1 case of pathological antacid smears. Conclusion: Excision biopsy can be used for the etiology of nontuberculous mycobacterium infection of the skin. The positive rate of taking pus and subcutaneous necrotic tissue for culture is higher.

Key words: nontuberculous mycobacterium, incisional biopsy