Outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infection after soft tissue augmentation

Dermatol Surg. 2003 Sep;29(9):971-3. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2003.29262.x.

Abstract

Background: Illicit soft-tissue augmentation performed in New York City resulted in an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infection in 2002.

Objective: To report two cases of women who developed tender, subcutaneous nodules of the face and buttocks after illicit soft-tissue augmentation with a hyaluronic acid derivative.

Methods: Two case reports are presented, and the literature is reviewed.

Results: Empiric treatment with clarithromycin (for M. abscessus infection) and prednisone (for foreign body reaction) resulted in clearance of lesions.

Conclusion: Contaminated or impure material used for soft-tissue augmentation can result in a clustered outbreak of infection or foreign body reaction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Cosmetic Techniques / adverse effects*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Female
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / drug therapy
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / etiology
  • Fraud*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Hyaluronic Acid / adverse effects*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / epidemiology*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / etiology*
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / adverse effects
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Clarithromycin
  • Prednisone