OBJECTIVE  To analyze the diagnosis and treatment process of four patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection after autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation, providing a reference for clinical management of this condition.

METHODS  A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of four patients with NTM infection after autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation who were admitted to the Sichuan Milan Bravou Medical Beauty Hospital from Apr. 2020 to Aug. 2023. The study summarized the patients' disease progression, laboratory findings, imaging data and treatment plans, and explored the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, prevention, early diagnosis and standardized treatment of NTM infections.

RESULTS All four patients were female, developing inflammatory reactions such as skin redness, swelling and pain 14–24 days after autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation. The secretion specimens were identified as NTM in all cases, including one case of rate Mycobacterium wolinskyi. This patient presented with scattered erythema on both breasts, an erythema ulceration on the inferomedial aspect inner of left breast with minimal purulent secretions and palpable induration around other erythematous areas without significant skin temperature or tenderness. Breast ultrasound revealed multiple hypoechoic areas bilaterally, with the largest measuring 21 mm × 25 mm on the left and 25 mm × 20 mm on the right. Based on NTM infection treatment guidelines, combined with surgical debridement, puncture drainage, sensitive antibiotics and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) topical applications, all four patients were cured.

CONCLUSIONS  For patients with NTM infections after autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation, surgical debridement, puncture drainage, multidrug antimicrobial therapy and adjunctive TCM topical applications demonstrates favorable efficacy.