Mycobacterium fortuitum mastitis following augmentation mammaplasty: report of a case

A 26-year-old woman was admitted to the Veterans General Hospital with the chief problem of recurrent abscess formation over the right breast one month after augmentation mammaplasty. Pus aspirated from the right breast grew Mycobacterium fortuitum, a rapidly growing atypical Mycobacterium, in 4 consecutive cultures. The infected mammanoplastic prosthesis was surgically removed. Acid-fast bacilli were found on pathologic examination of the surgical specimen. Amikacin, doxycycline and ethambutol were given for two weeks according to the sensitivity test. The patient underwent reconstructive surgery of her right breast 10 months later. A specimen obtained from that surgery showed no more acid-fast bacilli on pathological examination. To date there are no signs of recurrence. We suggest that the possibility of mycobacterial infection should be kept in mind when the pus is reported as being "sterile" on an ordinary bacterial culture.