Investigation of a pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium franklinni

Mycobacterium franklinni is a ubiquitous organism that can cause lung, skin, and soft tissue infections. Due to its pervasive nature, it can be a source of outbreaks via contamination of shared medical equipment or tools. When investigating outbreaks of this type of organism it is important to consider the clinical picture of the patient when evaluating if there is a pseudo-outbreak as well as identifying if treatment is needed for patients. •Mycobacterium franklinni is a nonpigmented rapid-growing acid-fast bacillus.•Pseudo-outbreaks are difficult to distinguish and generally represent contamination.•Clinical review of cases is crucial in determining if true contamination occurred.•Identification of a pseudo-outbreak prevents inappropriate treatment and testing.