The mycobacteriosis is a disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria belonged to the Mycobacterium genus. Infections due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are strongly related to failures in the processes of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of medical products. The objective is to analyze the occurrence of surgical site infections by RGM in patients undergoing orthopedic procedures through integrative review; to characterize the surgical site infections (SSI) by RGM; and to verify the presence of factors that may explain the surgical site infections by RGM. The method was the integrative review, which includes the following steps: elaboration of the research question; establishment of inclusion and exclusion criteria; definition of information to be extracted from the study; assessment of the included studies; interpretation of results; and presentation of the review. 21 articles were found, mostly published in English and two in French, varying considering the continent and country of the origin of the article. The time between surgery and onset of symptoms was reported by 34 (100%) patients, but the analysis was performed for 33 patients because it was considered only the first episode of infection by RGM. The average time to diagnosis of SSI was 653.6 days (93 weeks), standard deviation ± 1343 days (192 weeks), median of 80 days (11.4 weeks) and mode of 90 days (three months). The most prevalent signs and symptoms reported by patients were: pain (61.8%), secretion (50.0%), edema (41.2%), fever (41.2%), erythema (26.5%), fistula (20.6%), heat (14.7%), tremor (5.9%), abscess (5.9%) and hematoma (3.0%). Regarding surgical interventions performed in patients after diagnosis of SSI, the most frequent was antibiotic therapy (100%), removal of dentures (50.0%), drainage (41.2%), surgical debridement (41.2%), irrigation (23.5%), surgical revision (17.6%), replacement of dentures (8.8%), removal of the prosthetic components (8.8%), and reimplantation of the prosthesis (2.9%). The identification of etiological agent(s) of SSI did not follow a routine methodology, which can influence the reliability of the results, especially regarding the kind of etiologic agent.Related to the kind of isolated RGM of the infection sites, it was found that M.fortuitum was the most prevalent; being also isolated the M.chelonae, M.abscessus, M.goodii, M.smegmatis, M.farcinogenes and M.wolinskyi. Regarding the sources investigated: probably from iatrogenic origin, it is habits of residents in orthopedics during surgeries to use hydromassage before operating; liquid components or cement powder of methylmethacrylate or metal prosthesis; cortisone injections for chronic synovitis during 5 years before surgery; air conditioning system or soaking solution to rinse the denture; soap in the water, where it was accomplished the immersion foot (podiatrist's recommendation); bioabsorbable screws used in surgery; intraarticular injections of dexamethasone; however, none of them can be confirmed. When the sensitivity test w...
