Mycobacterial skin infections are known to evolve into draining subcutaneous abscess and are
often associated with M. fortuitum and M. chelonae. We report a case of subcutaneous abscess
in a 36 year old woman due to M. fortuitum with the underlying risk factor of Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE) with Lupus Nephritis. The aspirated pus showed growth of M. fortuitum
when inoculated on Lowenstein Jensen (L-J) media. The organism was susceptible to Coamoxiclav,
Sparfloxacin and Pyrazinamide and resistant to other first line and second line
drugs. The patient was treated with injection Co-amoxiclav for 14 days. She responded to
treatment emphasizing the importance of isolation and drug susceptibility testing of rapid
growers isolated from pus specimen.