Delayed post-operative wound infections due to non-tuberculous Mycobacterium.

Abstract

The results of the present study indicated that non-tuberculous mycobacterial post-operative wound infection was fairly common in northeastern India. Thus, mycobacterial infections should be considered in wounds that show delayed healing and do not respond to antibiotics used for acute pyogenic infections. Further, 80 per cent of the specimens yielded the growth of AFB in cultures as against only 40 per cent positive in the ZN stained direct smears. This indicates the possibility of missing a mycobacterial wound infection if only direct smears are taken for diagnosis.