Wound infections due to Mycobacterium fortuitum after polypropylene mesh inguinal hernia repair

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 374 - 377
• Main Authors: Celdrán, A, Esteban, J, Mañas, J, Granizo, J.-J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aged; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hernia surgery; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium fortuitum; Mycobacterium fortuitum - pathogenicity; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Orthopedic surgery; Other diseases. Semiology; Polypropylene; Polypropylenes - adverse effects; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical infection; Surgical Mesh - adverse effects; Surgical Mesh - microbiology; Surgical Wound Infection - microbiology; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Polypropylene; Hernia surgery; Mycobacterium fortuitum; Surgical infection; Pathogenesis; Prosthesis; Mycobacterial infection; Wound; Infection; Symptomatology; Orthopedic surgery; Treatment; Mycobacteriales; Abdominal disease; Surgery; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Antibacterial agent; Repair; Inguinal hernia
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2007.05.006

Summary Mycobacterium fortuitum complex is a group of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). These opportunistic pathogens are frequently associated with infections related to surgical procedures involving biomaterials. Two cases of Mycobacterium fortuitum infection occurred in a prospective study of inguinal hernia prosthesis repairs. These infections differed from those caused by other bacteria in terms of pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestation and resistance to both prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics.