To the Editor: We recently inves-tigated a case of Mycobacterium che-lonae abdominal wound infection af-ter liposuction performed under local anesthesia at an outpatient medical of-fi ce. Our aim was to determine wheth-er other cases of atypical mycobaterial infections had previously occurred af-ter liposuction. M. chelonae is widely distributed in soil and water, includ-ing tap water. Atypical mycobacterial infections have been associated with skin and soft tissue infections, includ-ing infections after cosmetic surgeries, and outbreaks have been documented (1–4). Previously reported potential sources of liposuction equipment contamination have been inadequate disinfection or sterilization after rins-ing of liposuction equipment with tap water, tap water used in cleaning li-posuction cannulae, or the quaternary ammonium solution used to disinfect liposuction equipment (2,4). Increased numbers of procedures performed in freestanding medical centers (not con-nected with hospitals) that are not rou-tinely monitored by infection control committees or equivalent oversight bodies may contribute to atypical my-cobacterial infection (1).
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