Outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infection after soft tissue augmentation.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Contaminated or impure material used for soft-tissue augmentation can result in a clustered outbreak of infection or foreign body reaction.
Toy
Brian R
BR
Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, 560 1st Avenue, H-100, New York, NY 10016, USA. dr_toy@yahoo.com
Frank
Paul Jarrod
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005607:Fraud; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D017291:Clarithromycin; D011241:Prednisone