A case of postoperative breast infection by Mycobacterium fortuitum associated with the hospital water supply

Am J Infect Control. 2015 Apr 1;43(4):406-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.12.023.

Abstract

This report describes the first known laboratory-confirmed case of Mycobacterium fortuitum breast infection related to the hospital water supply. The source of the M fortuitum infection was identified by repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based polymerase chain reaction genotyping. In addition, we discuss appropriate infection control measures to minimize patient exposure to waterborne pathogens, in particular, in the context of nontuberculous mycobacteria, which is difficult to eradicate from the water supply network.

Keywords: Breast; Mycobacterium fortuitum; Surgical wound infection; Water supply.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cross Infection / diagnosis*
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Female
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / diagnosis*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium fortuitum / isolation & purification*
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Water Microbiology
  • Water Supply / standards*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • DNA, Bacterial