Outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae in France

Tattooing is common worldwide.1 Various infections have been reported, including local infections mainly due to pyogenic bacteria and systemic infections such as hepatitis B and C and HIV.2 3 We report a large outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae skin infection occurring in France over eight months that was related to contaminated ink. Forty eight patients presented with skin lesions, mainly pustules, occurring from 3 to 35 …