In this issue, Jun Yuan and colleagues report their investigation of an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus.1 As they describe, they searched for all cases, determined the various procedures received by cases and non-cases, and interviewed and observed healthcare staff. Their investigation identified lapses in infection control that were likely responsible for the outbreak, and guided specific changes in procedures to prevent future similar cases from the responsible clinic.

In a nosocomial outbreak, patients incur costs in the form of ill health. With a successful investigation, these costs are not wasted, but instead contribute to benefits for others in the form of avoided future infections. This journal's publication of Jun Yuan and colleagues’ report extends these benefits far beyond one Chinese village, guiding healthcare workers throughout the world to avoid similar events.