Insulin injection site abscess caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum

Abstract

Mycobacterium fortuitum is ubiquitously present in the natural environment – e.g. in soil, dust and natural water – with a remarkable propensity to form biofilm. It has a lipid-rich outer membrane which makes it resistant to usual disinfectants. It is implicated mainly in skin and soft tissue infection; however, invasive systemic disease is reported to occur in immunocompromised hosts. It has rarely been reported to cause insulin injection site abscess. Usual antitubercular drugs are not effective and combinations of antibiotics are recommended. We present two cases of insulin injection site abscess caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons.