Soft-tissue infections caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum complex following penetrating injury
E. K. Subbarao, M. M. Tarpay and M. I. Marks
Soft-tissue infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria may follow
penetrating trauma. We present four immunologically normal patients in whom
soft-tissue infections with Mycobacterium fortuitum developed after they
stepped on nails. Their presentations were clinically indistinguishable
from puncture wound infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Staphylococcus aureus. The acid-fast organisms grew on standard
bacteriologic media within three to five days. Speciation and antimicrobial
susceptibility testing was performed. The primary mode of therapy was
surgical; adjunctive antimicrobial therapy is recommended only for
extensive or chronic infections and in immunocompromised hosts. All four of
our patients had good outcomes after therapy.
