Diagnosis and management of postlaparotomy wound infection caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum

Mycobacterium fortuitum is ubiquitous in nature and can cause a wide variety of lesions in humans with immunocompromised or antecedent chronic illness. Clinical diagnosis is difficult and relapses are seen. This is due to the fact that they are not critically investigated and are not responded to traditional antitubercular treatment and other antibiotics. Herewith, we report a case of M. fortuitum causing laparotomy port infection-causing repeated multiple abscess on the anterior abdominal wall and treated with amikacin and clarithromycin. The wound healed completely and the patient recovered after administering a combination of amikacin and clarithromycin. We conclude that strict standard operating procedures should be followed to prevent mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) infections during and after surgical procedures. Any postoperative, chronic infection which is not responding to conventional antibiotics should be highly suspected for such MOTT infections. Antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed so as to identify the required antibiotic combination and treated accordingly to prevent further complications and to reduce the cost of treatment.