Mycobacteria and Their Endurance to Environmental Factors

Abstract

The mycobacteria are rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria that do not form spores. Although they do not stain readily, once stained they resist decolonization by acid or alcohol and are therefore called acid-fast bacilli. M. tuberculosis causes tuberculosis and is a very important pathogen of humans. M. avium-intracellulare (M. avium complex) and other atypical mycobacteria frequently infect pallets with AIDS, are opportunistic pathogens in other immunocompromised persons, and occasionally cause disease in patients with normal immune systems. Mycobacteria are obligate aerobes and growth rate is much slower than that of most bacteria. Mycobacteria tend to be more resistant to physical and chemical agents or antibacterial agents than other bacteria.