Mycobacterium fortuitum : A Rare Cause of Surgical Site Infection

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Jan 1;44(1):e22-e24. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004506. Epub 2024 Aug 7.

Abstract

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium mainly associated with skin, soft tissue and surgical site infections. We report an unusual outbreak of 6 cases of surgical site infection following spinal surgery. Patients received combined intravenous antibiotics, including amikacin, followed by an extended period of oral therapy with favorable clinical outcomes. No instrumentation replacement was performed in any case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amikacin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous* / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous* / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium fortuitum* / isolation & purification
  • Surgical Wound Infection* / drug therapy
  • Surgical Wound Infection* / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Amikacin