title: Soft-tissue infections caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum complex following penetrating injury.
abstract: Soft-tissue infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria may follow penetrating trauma. We present four immunologically normal patients in whom soft-tissue infections with Mycobacterium fortuitum developed after they stepped on nails. Their presentations were clinically indistinguishable from puncture wound infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The acid-fast organisms grew on standard bacteriologic media within three to five days. Speciation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. The primary mode of therapy was surgical; adjunctive antimicrobial therapy is recommended only for extensive or chronic infections and in immunocompromised hosts. All four of our patients had good outcomes after therapy.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D018409:Foot Injuries; D006801:Humans; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000209:etiology*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications*