Abstract: Cutaneous and soft tissue infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are mostly associated with injections, liposuction, plastic surgery, and other procedures. In this case, the patient developed skin erythema, swelling, ulceration, and purulent discharge after multiple subcutaneous lipolytic injections across the body. Acid-fast staining of the culture specimen revealed acid-fast bacilli, and DNA microarray detection confirmed Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus. The patient was treated with oral clarithromycin and intramuscular amikacin. After six months, the pain was relieved, the color of the original plaques faded, and the lesions were basically healed.

Key words: nontuberculous mycobacteri, lipolytic injection, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium abscessus