Which atypical mycobacteria are associated with mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is the microinjection of drugs into the dermis. It has a variety of applications and despite the dearth of scientific data, is popular in Europe and South America as a procedure to reduce fat and cellulite and to perform body contouring. It is also offered in the United States. Most often the service is delivered in nonmedical settings under nonsterile conditions. A number of cases have been reported in the literature describing infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria following mesotherapy. The organisms include M. chelonae, M. fredericksbergense, M. abscessus, and M. fortuitum.

Difonzo EM, Campanile GL, Vanzi L, Lotti L: Mesotherapy and cutaneous Mycobacterium fortuitum infection, Int J Dermatol 48(6):645– 647, 2009.

Regnier S, Cambau E, Meningaud JP, et al: Clinical management of rapidly growing mycobacterial cutaneous infections in patients after mesotherapy, Clin Infect Dis 49(9):1358–1364, 2009.