An Outbreak of Soft-Tissue Infections Due to Mycobacterium fortuitum Associated with Electromyography

An outbreak of infections due to Mycobacterium fortuitum associated with electromyography (EMG) is described. During a 6-week period, six patients who received EMG at one facility developed soft-tissue infections manifested by slowly expanding suppurative nodules at sites of needle electrode inserti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1991-05, Vol.163 (5), p.1150-1153
Main Authors: Nolan, Charles M., Hashisaki, Peter A., Dundas, Denis F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Concise Communication
Cross Infection - epidemiology
Cross Infection - etiology
Disease Outbreaks
Disinfection
Electrodes
Electrodes - standards
Electromyography
Electromyography - adverse effects
Female
Glutaral
Humans
Infections
Leg
Legs
Lumbosacral Region
Male
Medical syringes
Middle Aged
Mycobacterium fortuitum
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - epidemiology
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - etiology
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - isolation & purification
Physicians
Skin
Skin Diseases, Infectious - epidemiology
Skin Diseases, Infectious - etiology
Sterilization
Tap water
Washington - epidemiology
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Summary:An outbreak of infections due to Mycobacterium fortuitum associated with electromyography (EMG) is described. During a 6-week period, six patients who received EMG at one facility developed soft-tissue infections manifested by slowly expanding suppurative nodules at sites of needle electrode insertion. M. fortuitum was isolated from five patients; four isolates that were evaluated further were M. Fortuitum biovariant fortuitum. EMG procedures were done in one laboratory byone physician and assistant. Standard procedures includeduse of reusable needle electrodes disinfected with 2% glutaraldehyde and then rinsed with tap water. On recognition of the outbreak, the procedure was changed to include autoclaving of needle electrodes. Active surveillance for 1 year revealed no further cases. M.fortuitum could not be isolated from the laboratory, EMG equipment and reagents, or skin of the medical personnel. The outbreak demonstrates that nontuberculous mycobacterial infection may be associated with EMG.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/163.5.1150