Cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection following hair transplant.
A 28-year-old man presented with a 10-day history of scalp nodules. He had undergone hair transplantation 2 months previously. Incision and drainage of one of the nodules yielded gelatinous material, which was sent for microscopy and culture, including low-temperature culture. After 2 weeks of incubation, culture of the nodule yielded acid- and alcohol-fast bacilli, which were identified as Mycobacterium abscessus, a rapidly growing, nontuberculous mycobacterium, which has been reported to cause cutaneous, soft tissue and respiratory infections following trauma, surgery or injection with nonsterile needles. A high index of suspicion is therefore needed in patients who present with cutaneous infections after cosmetic dermatological procedures, including hair transplantation.
Department of Dermatology, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool, UK. eustacekaren@gmail.com.
K
K
Eustace
Department of Dermatology, Royal London Hospital, Bart's Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
V
V
Jolliffe
Department of Dermatology, Royal London Hospital, Bart's Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
A
A
Sahota
Department of Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.
K
K
Gholam
D000328:Adult; D006197:Hair / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000073358:Mycobacterium abscessus; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy