Mycobacterium

Abstract

The genus mycobacterium comprises more than 125 species, some of which are pathogenic or potentially pathogenic to human and animals and some of which are saprobes. A variety of diseases, including pulmonary disease, skin and soft tissue infections, lymphadenitis, and disseminated disease, are caused by mycobacteria. The most important pathogen of this genus is M. Tuberculosis (MTB) complex, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB).1 Current global estimates indicate that about one-third of the world's population is infected with MTB; 8.8 million individuals develop the disease annually. In addition, there are increasing reports of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections not only in the immunocompromised but also in immunocompetent hosts.2,3 NTM may cause both asymptomatic infection and symptomatic disease in humans. They infect many sites within the body but primarily cause pulmonary disease, cervical lymphadenopathy, and localized skin and soft tissue lesions.