Isolation of Atypical Mycobacteria from an Unusual Site: A Case Study

Abstract

Infections due to atypical mycobacteria have been reported after surgical procedures, liposuction, subcutaneous injections, etc. Here the authors report a case that was operated for umbilical hernia and presented with delayed wound healing, discomfort over site of incision and chronic serous discharge. The exudate from non-healing surgical wound was received in the microbiology laboratory. Ziehl-Neelsen’s stain of the exudate revealed presence of scanty acid fast bacilli which on culture on Lowenstein-Jensen’s medium grew rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). The strain was identified as Mycobacterium fortuitum. It was sensitive to Ciprofloxacillin and Amikacin. Patient was started on tab. Ciprofloxacillin 500 mg BD and inj. Amikacin 500 mg BD. By seven days, the patient started showing improvement and within six weeks all the lesions healed. This was an unusual presentation of M. fortuitum in an immune-competent individual.

Keywords: Umbilical hernia, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, Mycobacterium fortuitum