An outbreak of post-acupuncture cutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium abscessus

[Guest guest]

An outbreak of post-acupuncture cutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium

abscessus

Joon Young Song , Jang Wook Sohn , Hye Won Jeong , Hee Jin Cheong , Woo Joo

Kim and Min Ja Kim

 

BMC Infectious Diseases 2006, 6:6 doi:10.1186/1471-2334-6-6

 

Published 13 January 2006

 

Abstract (provisional)

 

Background

Despite the increasing popularity of acupuncture, the importance of

infection control is not adequately emphasized in Oriental medicine. In

December 2001, an Oriental medical doctor in Seoul, South Korea, encountered

several patients with persistent, culture-negative skin lesions on the trunk

and extremities at the sites of prior acupuncture treatment. We identified

and investigated an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus cutaneous infection

among the patients who attended this Oriental medicine clinic.

Methods

Patients were defined as clinic patients with persistent cutaneous

infections at the acupuncture sites. Medical records for the previous 7

months were reviewed. Clinical specimens were obtained from the patients and

an environmental investigation was performed. M. abscessus isolates,

cultured from patients, were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

(PFGE).

Results

Forty patients who attended the Oriental medicine clinic and experienced

persistent cutaneous wound infections were identified. Cultures from five of

these patients proved positive, and all other diagnoses were based on

clinical and histopathologic examinations. All environmental objects tested

were negative for M. abscessus, however, most were contaminated by various

nosocomial pathogens. Molecular analysis using PFGE found all wound isolates

to be identical.

Conclusions

We have identified a large outbreak of rapidly growing mycobacterial

infection among patients who received acupuncture at a single Oriental

medicine clinic. Physicians should suspect mycobacterial infections in

patients with persistent cutaneous infections following acupuncture, and

infection control education including hygienic practice, should be

emphasized for Oriental medical doctors practicing acupuncture.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2334-6-6.pdf

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

The abstract (below) from Tom Verhaeghe [to the TCM List] is

disconcerting. Opponents of AP will certainly cite it as a risk of receiving

AP.

 

I have emailed Dr. Joon Young Song (the first author) to ask if

personnel in the clinic involved in the outbreak were reusing AP

needles. I will post the reply, if any.

 

Best regards,

Phil

 

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Joon Young Song, Jang Wook Sohn , Hye Won Jeong , Hee Jin

Cheong , Woo Joo Kim and Min Ja Kim (2006) An outbreak of post-

acupuncture cutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium abscessus.

BMC Infectious Diseases 2006, 6:6 doi:10.1186/1471-2334-6-6

Published 13 January 2006. Abstract (provisional). Background: Despite

the increasing popularity of acupuncture, the importance of infection

control is not adequately emphasized in Oriental medicine. In December

2001, an Oriental medical doctor in Seoul, South Korea, encountered

several patients with persistent, culture-negative skin lesions on the

trunk and extremities at the sites of prior acupuncture treatment. We

identified and investigated an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus

cutaneous infection among the patients who attended this Oriental

medicine clinic. Methods Patients were defined as clinic patients with

persistent cutaneous infections at the acupuncture sites. Medical

records for the previous 7 months were reviewed. Clinical specimens

were obtained from the patients and an environmental investigation was

performed. M. abscessus isolates, cultured from patients, were

compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results Forty

patients who attended the Oriental medicine clinic and experienced

persistent cutaneous wound infections were identified. Cultures from

five of these patients proved positive, and all other diagnoses were

based on clinical and histopathologic examinations. All environmental

objects tested were negative for M. abscessus, however, most were

contaminated by various nosocomial pathogens. Molecular analysis

using PFGE found all wound isolates to be identical. Conclusions We

have identified a large outbreak of rapidly growing mycobacterial

infection among patients who received acupuncture at a single Oriental

medicine clinic. Physicians should suspect mycobacterial infections in

patients with persistent cutaneous infections following acupuncture, and

infection control education including hygienic practice, should be

emphasized for Oriental medical doctors practicing acupuncture. See:

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2334-6-6.pdf

 

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