Mycobacterium fortuitum as a cause of mastoiditis and wound infection

Mycobacterium fortuitum is uncommonly pathogenic for man. When implicated, this organism usually infects soft-tissue structures. Therapy necessitates surgical excision and prolonged antimicrobial therapy. A patient had a mastoiditis and wound infection due to this organism. Her successful treatment included radical debridement and prolonged therapy with several antimicrobials. The necessity for including mycobacteria in the differential diagnosis of ear, nose, and throat diseases is emphasized by our experience. The complexities of management of these infections are reviewed.