Mycobacteroides abscessus

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Mycobacteroides abscessus is a rapidly growing, multidrug‑resistant non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) found in soil and water. It can cause lung disease, skin and soft tissue infections, and infections in other parts of the body, especially in people with lung problems or weakened immune systems. It belongs to a group that includes three subspecies: abscessus, bolletii, and massiliense. These subspecies differ in how they respond to antibiotics, which makes treatment challenging.

What it looks like and how it grows
- It is a Gram‑positive, nonmotile rod about 1.0–2.5 micrometers long.
- It grows on culture media at 28–37°C in about a week; it does not grow at 43°C.
- Colonies can be smooth or rough and are typically white or grayish.
- It can tolerate some salty conditions and certain lab chemicals.

Where it is found
- It is common in the environment and can contaminate soil, water, and hospital equipment.

What diseases it can cause
- Lung infections (especially in people with chronic lung disease or cystic fibrosis)
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Eye infections, bloodstream infections, and infections in other organs
- Infections can involve nearly any part of the body, with symptoms varying by site

Diagnosis and treatment
- Diagnosis requires symptoms, imaging (like CT scans), and lab cultures to confirm the bacterium.
- Because M. abscessus is resistant to many antibiotics, treatment usually involves multiple drugs for a long period and depends on the specific subspecies.

Subtypes and antibiotic resistance
- M. a. abscessus and M. a. bolletii often carry a resistance gene that makes them resistant to macrolide antibiotics.
- M. a. massiliense typically has a nonfunctional form of that gene, which can make it more susceptible to treatment.

Outbreaks and transmission
- Outbreaks have occurred in hospitals and clinics, often linked to contaminated disinfectants, saline, or instruments rather than person-to-person spread.

Phage therapy and research
- In 2019, scientists used a mix of bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) to kill a drug‑resistant M. abscessus strain in a patient, showing potential for using phages to treat hard-to-treat infections.

History and naming
- The type strain is ATCC 19977, first isolated in 1953 from a knee infection.
- The bacterium was recognized as a distinct species in 1992. The three subspecies were described in 2006, with genomic data helping to clarify their differences.

This overview highlights what M. abscessus is, where it comes from, the kinds of infections it can cause, and why it can be difficult to treat. If you’re looking for medical guidance, talk to a healthcare professional.