Nontuberculous mycobacteria infection after mesotherapy: preliminary report of 15 cases.
BACKGROUND
Mesotherapy is an increasingly used technique which is currently causing several mycobacterial infections owing to contaminated substances being injected, and also to poor aseptic measures being held by nonprofessional practitioners.


METHODS
We collected 15 cases of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection after mesotherapy in a 6-month period.


RESULTS
All patients were female with ages ranging from 19 to 52 years; the main substances injected were procaine and lecithin, and the time between mesotherapy and the appearance of the lesions varied between 1 and 12 weeks. Clinical lesions were mostly nodules and abscesses, which were localized in the abdomen and buttocks in the majority of cases. The main patient complaint was local pain but some presented with systemic symptoms such as fever and malaise. Biopsies reported granulomatous chronic inflammation in the majority of cases. Skin cultures were positive for NTM and Mycobacterium chelonae.


CONCLUSIONS
Mesotherapy not performed with quality controlled substances can be a predisposing factor for NTM infection.
Sañudo
Alejandra
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology Section, School of Medicine, San Vicente de Paul Hospital, Medellín, Colombia.
Vallejo
Fernando
F
Sierra
Martha
M
Hoyos
Juan G
JG
Yepes
Sandra
S
Wolff
Juan Carlos
JC
Correa
Luis A
LA
Montealegre
Carlos
C
Navarro
Pilar
P
Bedoya
Elina
E
Sanclemente
Gloria
G
D000328:Adult; D003105:Colombia; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology