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1 October 2006

Volume 43, Number 7
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006;43:823–830
© 2006 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
1058-4838/2006/4307-0004$15.00
DOI: 10.1086/507535
MAJOR ARTICLE

An Outbreak of Mycobacterium jacuzzii Infection following Insertion of Breast Implants

G. Rahav,1

S. Pitlik,2

Z. Amitai,3

A. Lavy,4

M. Blech,1

N. Keller,1

G. Smollan,1

M. Lewis,3 and

A. Zlotkin1

1Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 2Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikvah, and 3Ministry of Health and 4Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory of Israel, Tel Aviv, Israel

Background.Surgical wound infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria developed in 15 women after insertion of breast implants from August to November 2003 at a single medical center.

Methods.A case‐control study was conducted that included the identified patients, as well as women who underwent breast operations at the same center who did not develop infections. The study was accompanied by an extensive environmental investigation. Isolates were identified by standard bacteriological methods and by comparison of their 16S rRNA, HSP65, RPOB, SODA, and RECA gene sequences. Isolates were compared by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis.

Results.The risk factors for infection included surgery performed by 1 specific surgeon (odds ratio, 21.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.64–125.6). Identical strains of mycobacteria were isolated from the infected wounds of the patients; from the eyebrows, hair, face, nose, ears, and groin of this particular surgeon; and from this surgeon's outdoor whirlpool. The isolates exhibited a biochemical profile overlapping that of Mycobacterium wolinskyi, but their sequences of 16S rRNA and HSP65, RPOB, SODA, and RECA genes differed. We propose the name “Mycobacterium jacuzzii” for this new species. DNA fingerprints of cultured isolates from the surgical wounds, areas of the surgeon's body that grow hair, and the surgeon's whirlpool were identical. When the surgeon discontinued his use of the whirlpool and began cleaning the hairy areas of his body with a shampoo containing triclosan, the outbreak ended.

Conclusions.This outbreak brings to light the possibility of the colonization of human skin and human‐to‐human transmission of environmental mycobacteria during surgery that involves implant insertion.

Received 4 March 2006; accepted 16 June 2006; electronically published 28 August 2006.

Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Galia Rahav, Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel ().

Cited by

X. Y. HAN. (2008) Seasonality of clinical isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria. Epidemiology and Infection 136:09,
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2008.
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