abscessus skin and soft tissue infection have a delayed diagnosis; alternative diagnoses often considered include panniculitis,
acne conglobata, Kaposi's sarcoma and cutaneous vasculitis.7,8 As in our case, M. abscessus infections are usually sporadic, although outbreaks linked to environmental sources, including re-used needles washed in contaminated water, public baths and in inadequately cleaned medical equipment, such as bronchoscopes and endoscopes, are all well documented.1,2,9 M.