Surgical site infection due to Mycobacterium peregrinum: a case report and literature review.

[OBJECTIVES] Mycobacterium peregrinum is a species included in the Mycobacterium fortuitum complex, a member of the group of rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (RGM). Only a few cases of infection with M. peregrinum have been reported, and no relevant review has been published.

[METHODS] Following the treatment of a patient with M. peregrinum infection after plastic surgery, we undertook a review of the literature of previously reported cases of M. peregrinum infection.

[RESULTS] Ten previously reported cases were identified. Like other cases of the M. fortuitum complex infections, the majority of M. peregrinum infections were related to surgical site infections and catheter-related infections. In the literature, most of the antibiotic regimens were based on a combination of quinolones with various antibiotics, and the duration of treatment ranged from 6 weeks to 4 months.

[CONCLUSION] The fact that the optimal treatment for M. peregrinum infection has not yet been established has resulted in the use of a diverse range of therapies. It is important that clinicians carefully review each case so that a more appropriate treatment for M. peregrinum infections can be determined.