Korean J Dermatol.  2009 Jun;47(6):755-758.

A Case of Mycobacterium fortuitum Infection at the Site of Acupuncture

• Choi YJ
• Lee HJ
• Lee KY
• Ryu DJ
• Lee MG

Abstract

Mycobacterial infections that are transmitted by acupuncture are an emerging problem. M. fortuitum is one of the rapid-growing atypical mycobacteria and this infection usually follows a puncture wound or a surgical procedure. We report here on a case of M. fortuitum infection following an acupuncture procedure. A 37-year-old woman presented with indurations and ulcerations of both popliteal fossae after undergoing acupuncture. The skin biopsy specimen showed suppurative inflammation with a lymphocytic infiltration, and the Ziehl-Neelsen stain for AFB was negative. Bacterial culture of the tissue fluid was negative. The culture of the tissue specimen and polymerase chain reaction revealed M. fortuitum. The infection responded to 10 weeks of treatment with isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol, and four months of treatment with rifampin. Despite of the increasing popularity of acupuncture, the importance of infection control has not been adequately emphasized in oriental medicine. Education for proper infection control, including aseptic practice, is necessary for oriental medical doctors and practitioners.

Keyword

Acupuncture; Mycobacterium fortuitum

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Adult
Biopsy
Ethambutol
Female
Humans
Infection Control
Inflammation
Isoniazid
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium fortuitum
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Punctures
Rifampin
Skin
Ulcer
Ethambutol
Isoniazid
Rifampin