Mycobacteria that produce colonies on solid media in 7 days or earlier constitute the second major group of NTM. Currently, approximately 70 species have been classified into this group.

General Characteristics

The large group of organisms that constitute the RGM is divided into six major groups of potentially pathogenic species, based on pigmentation and molecular studies. Unlike the majority of other mycobacteria, most rapid-growers can grow on routine bacteriologic media and on media specific for cultivation of mycobacteria. On Gram staining, these organisms appear as weakly gram-positive rods resembling diphtheroids.

Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

The rapidly growing mycobacteria considered potentially pathogenic can cause disease in either healthy or immunocompromised patients. Like many other NTM, these organisms are ubiquitous in the environment and are present worldwide. They have been found in soil, marshes, rivers, and municipal water supplies (tap water) and in marine and terrestrial life forms. Infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria can be acquired in the community from environmental sources. They also can be nosocomial infections, resulting from medical interventions (including bone marrow transplantation), wound infections, and catheter sepsis. These organisms may be commensals on the skin. They gain entry into the host by inoculation into the skin and subcutaneous tissues as a result of trauma, injections, or surgery, or through animal contact.

The RGM also can cause disseminated cutaneous infections. The description of chronic pulmonary infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria suggests a possible respiratory route for acquisition of organisms present in the environment. Of the potentially pathogenic, rapidly growing NTM, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, and M. abscessus are commonly encountered; these three species account for approximately 90% of clinical disease. Little is known about the pathogenesis of these organisms.

Spectrum of Disease

The spectrum of disease caused by the most commonly encountered rapid-growers is summarized in Table 1. The most common infection associated with RGM is post traumatic wound infection. An increase in wound infections has been associated with planktonic M. abscessus, which can be identified as a rough colonial phenotype on artificial media; these organisms are capable of infecting macrophages. The smooth colonial phenotype typically is identified in biofilms and lacks infectivity.

Table1. Common Types of Infections Caused by Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

قسم الشؤون الفكرية يعلن مشاركة ممثلين من 18 دولة إفريقية في خدمة زائري الإمام العسكري (عليه السلام)

مصور في قسم إعلام العتبة العباسية المقدسة يحصد المركز الأول في مسابقة دولية

العتبة العباسية المقدسة تختتم مجالس العزاء بذكرى شهادة الإمام الحسن العسكري (عليه السلام)

مركز الكفيل يستأنف دوراته التدريبية في الإسعافات الأولية لمنتسبي العتبة العباسية المقدسة

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

دون آثار جانبية.. زيت عشبة طبيعية قد يعالج القلق

"ليكانيماب".. علاج الزهايمر يطرح رسميا في السوق الألمانية

متى يجب تنظيف الأسنان في الصباح.. قبل أم بعد الإفطار؟

ارتفاع الوفيات.. منظمة الصحة تدق جرس الإنذار بشأن الكوليرا

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

أكبر مشروع طاقة رياح في نصف الكرة الجنوبي يحقق إنجازين جديدين

5 أمور لا تفعلها أثناء تشغيل مكيف سيارتك

ضوء إدارة المحرك: أسئلة مهمة لفهم عمله ومعانيه

"واتساب" يطلق خاصية جديدة لكتابة الرسائل بالذكاء الاصطناعي

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Slow-growing Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex

Anaerobic Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Cocci

The Salmonellae

The shigellae

Diseases Caused by Enterobacteriaceae Other than Salmonella and Shigella

Antigenic Structure of Enterobacteriaceae

Gram-Negative Rods

Gram-Positive, non–Spore- Forming Bacilli

Gram-Positive, Spore Forming Bacilli

Morphology and Identification of Enterobacteriaceae

Clinical Findings of Enterococci