The aim of this report is to investigate Mycobacterium abscessus infections at a rural clinic and carry out a surveillance program to determine the extent and source of these infections.

The authors conducted an active surveillance investigation of 36 patients who had visited the clinic since 1 July 2008. Clinical specimens were collected from the patients and an envirnmental investigation. Pulsed-field gel elctrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for comparing with M. abscessus isolates from the patients.

Six specimens were obtained from the 6 patients respectively and 22 environmental samples were obtained. M. abscessus was isolated from the wounds of two patients, and various nosocomial pathogens, but not M. abscessus , were isolated from the surrounding environment. Two strains of M. abscessus from patients were identical as a result of PFGE.

Infection control education including proper hand hygiene should be emphasized for physicians performing invasive procedures. There also needs to be more attention for invasive procedures management, including trigger point injection and epidural block in rural clinics.