Outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infection after soft tissue augmentation

BACKGROUND. Illicit soft-tissue augmentation performed in New York City resulted in an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infection in 2002. OBJECTIVE. To report two cases of women who developed tender, subcutaneous nodules of the face and buttocks after illicit soft-tissue augmentation with a hyaluronic acid derivative. METHODS. Two case reports are presented, and the literature is reviewed. RESULTS. Empiric treatment with clarithromycin ( for M. abscessus infection) and prednisone ( for foreign body reaction) resulted in clearance of lesions. CONCLUSION. Contaminated or impure material used for soft-tissue augmentation can result in a clustered outbreak of infection or foreign body reaction.