Public Health Advisory: Call for Cases: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Surgical Site Infections Following Cosmetic Surgery in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, July 2025 - Present

Published:
February 12, 2026

What You Need To Know

Summary:

  • The Communicable Disease Service (CDS) is issuing a Health Advisory about nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) identified among patients in multiple U.S. jurisdictions that received cosmetic surgery in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
  • Reported case-patients had cosmetic procedure dates ranging from July 2025 to September 2025.
  • No cases have been reported in New Jersey residents to date.
  • Healthcare facilities and providers are asked to report cases of NTM surgical site infections identified among patients that underwent cosmetic surgery in Mexico since July 1, 2025 (see “Contact Information”).

Background:

As of February 10, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with state and local health departments is investigating reports of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) surgical site infections identified among patients in multiple jurisdictions. Case-patients reported receiving cosmetic surgery in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, with procedure dates from July 2025 to September 2025.

NTM infections can be caused by numerous Mycobacterium bacterial species that are environmental hardy and naturally occurring in soil and water. Examples of common species associated with skin and soft tissue infections include Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae, and Mycobacterium marinum.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers:

  • Immediately contact NJDOH CDS to report cases of NTM cultured from a surgical site among patients that received cosmetic surgery in Jalisco, Mexico since July 1, 2025 (see “Contact Information”).
  • Closely monitor for new cases of NTM surgical site infections and collect information about prior cosmetic surgeries in Mexico from identified case patients.
    • Instruct the testing laboratory to retain NTM cultures corresponding to patients identified to have undergone cosmetic surgery in Mexico since July 1, 2025.
  • In accordance with the updated 8:57 reporting regulations, all extrapulmonary NTM cases should routinely be reported to the health officer of the jurisdiction in which the case resides.