Soft tissue abscess caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum

Mycobacterium fortuitum skin infection as a complication of anabolic steroids: a rare case report

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rare cause of recurrent skin abscesses in an immunocompetent person. We report the case of a 37-year-old man presenting with multiple recurrent non-healing skin abscesses. Culture of the abscess wall yielded growth of M fortuitum. In our case, we highlight the association of anabolic steroids with non-tuberculous mycobacterial skin abscesses that fail to resolve despite repeated drainage.

Mycobacterium fortuitum complex in Sweden during an 11-year period

Records of patients have been retrospectively examined studied during an 11-y period, from whom Mycobacterium fortuitum or M. chelonae was isolated in Sweden. Respiratory isolates were obtained from 71 patients. Clinical information was accessible in 52, chest X-ray was pathological in 51, and 42 had underlying diseases. Four skin and 4 urine isolates were observed. Two cases of osteitis and 2 bone marrow isolates of M. chelonae were found. One girl had a submandibular lymph node abscess with M. fortuitum. Of 2 HIV patients, 1 had positive blood cultures with M. fortuitum and the other positive sputum culture with M. chelonae. The broad spectrum of infections with M. fortuitum complex necessitates an integrated judgement of clinical and bacteriological data to determine the relevance of such isolates.