Nontuberculous mycobacteria infection after mesotherapy: Preliminary report of 15 cases

doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.02976.x

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Wiley InterScience

International Journal of Dermatology

Volume 46 Issue 6, Pages 649 - 653

Published Online: 5 Jun 2007

The Official Journal of the International Society of Dermatology

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Pharmacology and therapeutics

Nontuberculous mycobacteria infection after mesotherapy: Preliminary report of 15 cases

Alejandra Sañudo, MD, Fernando Vallejo, MD, Martha Sierra, MD, Juan G. Hoyos, MD, Sandra Yepes, MD, Juan Carlos Wolff, MD, Luis A. Correa, MD, Carlos Montealegre, MD, Pilar Navarro, MD, Elina Bedoya, MD, and Gloria Sanclemente, MD, MSc

From the Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology Section, School of Medicine, San Vicente de Paul Hospital, and the GRID Dermatology Section, University of Antioquia, and the Bioforma Institute, Medellín, Colombia

Correspondence Gloria Sanclemente, MD, MSc Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology Section School of Medicine Universidad de Antioquia Calle 33 No. 42 B 06, of 1200 Medellín Colombia E-mail: gsanclemente@epm.net.co

Abstract

Background Mesotherapy is an increasingly used technique which is currently causing several mycobacterial infections owing to contaminated substances being injected, and also to poor aseptic measures being held by nonprofessional practitioners.

Patients and methods We collected 15 cases of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection after mesotherapy in a 6-month period.

Results All patients were female with ages ranging from 19 to 52 years; the main substances injected were procaine and lecithin, and the time between mesotherapy and the appearance of the lesions varied between 1 and 12 weeks. Clinical lesions were mostly nodules and abscesses, which were localized in the abdomen and buttocks in the majority of cases. The main patient complaint was local pain but some presented with systemic symptoms such as fever and malaise. Biopsies reported granulomatous chronic inflammation in the majority of cases. Skin cultures were positive for NTM and Mycobacterium chelonae.

Discussion and conclusions Mesotherapy not performed with quality controlled substances can be a predisposing factor for NTM infection.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.02976.x About DOI