Tuberculous Surgical Site Infection Following Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy: A Case Report

Chronic pancreatitis is commonly managed by lateral pancreaticojejunostomy. Common early complications post-procedure include abscess formation, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, drain tract infection, pancreatic fistula, transient fluid collection, and haematoma, whereas late complications can manifest as recurrent pancreatitis, pain, cancer, re-intervention, and small bowel obstruction. Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is a common postoperative complication. We report a case of a 41-year-old male who presented with epigastric pain. He had a medical history of tuberculosis and was diagnosed with pancreatitis, subsequently managed by lateral pancreaticojejunostomy. However, a purulent discharge was observed at a two-week follow-up from the surgical site, which was later found to be Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) positive, indicative of a relapse of latent mycobacterial infection. The patient was timely intervened upon and initiated on a medical regimen for the same. Latent presentation of tuberculosis was noted in this case.