Mycobacterium chelonae infection treated with combined medication and surgical therapy: A case report

This case fills a gap in domestic and international reports of MC infection following cosmetic filler injections. By employing metagenomic next-generation sequencing, the pathogen was rapidly identified within a short timeframe, significantly reducing the diagnostic delay associated with conventional bacterial culture and identification methods. Early radical lesion excision combined with a dual-antibiotic regimen (levofloxacin-rifampin) achieved complete resolution within 1 month, establishing a replicable treatment paradigm for cutaneous MC infections. Further multicenter prospective studies are warranted to optimize surgical margins and antimicrobial treatment duration.