Periocular non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection after autologous fat transfer with micro-needling and fractional radiofrequency skin resurfacing

ABSTRACT

A 59-year-old woman with prior bilateral lower eyelid autologous fat transfer, subdermal micro-needling and fractional radiofrequency skin resurfacing presented with delayed left-sided preseptal cellulitis with small multinodular abscesses unresponsive to oral outpatient antibiotic regimens and inpatient intravenous antibiotics. Wound culture revealed Mycobacterium chelonae infection treated successfully with a 4-month regimen of clarithromycin and tedizolid without recurrence. This case highlights (1) the need for vigilance and a broad differential in delayed post-operative wound infections including non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, (2) resolution of infection without recurrence on clarithromycin and novel tedizolid oral antibiotic therapy, and (3) that caution should be exercised when performing combination autologous fat transfers with subdermal micro-needling procedures as the breakdown in skin integrity may potentiate infection.

KEYWORDS:

• Autologous fat transfer
• mycobacterial infection
• Mycobacterium chelonae
• tedizolid

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The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

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Funding

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