Successful management of surgical site infection caused by Mycobacterium mageritense in a breast cancer patient

Mycobacterium mageritense (M. mageritense), a nontuberculous mycobacterium, is classified as a rapidly growing mycobacterium, class IV in the Runyon Classification. This bacterium is found in soil, water, and other habitats. Infections caused by M. mageritense are relatively rare and no treatment protocol has been established. Herein, we report a case of skin and soft tissue infection caused by M. mageritense. A 49-year-old woman underwent surgery for right breast cancer. Four months after surgery, a surgical site infection was found, and M. mageritense was identified in the wound culture using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Based on the sensitivity results, the patient was treated with levofloxacin and doxycycline for 4 months. In addition to antimicrobial agents, aggressive surgical interventions led to a favorable course of treatment. In conclusion, successful treatment of skin and soft tissue infections with M. mageritense requires surgical intervention whenever possible, aggressive susceptibility testing, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy.