Rapidly growing Mycobacterium: A cause of post operative wound infection following a surgical procedure

We report a case of postoperative wound infection due to Mycobacterium fortuitum-chelonae complex in a male patient who presented with induration and discharging sinuses over the flank, 15 days after he had undergone Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for pelvic calculus. The seropurulent discharge from the wound showed acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on ZiehlNeelsen stain and culture yielded Mycobacterium fortuitumchelonae complex. The source of infection was probably contaminated water or disinfectant solution used for sterilization of the instruments. Key Messages: The diagnosis of chronic non-healing wound is of utmost importance and should be done at the earliest. The treatment is also different for non-tuberculous mycobacteria. So there is a need of proper sterilisation and disinfection of surgical instruments in order to prevent such infections.