Mycobacterium lentiflavum

Description

• Smooth colonies, with bright yellow pigmentation 1-2mm in diameter.

• Slow growth on Löwenstein-Jensen medium at temperatures between 22 °C and 37 °C within 3–4 weeks.
• Generally resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and streptomycin.

• Phylogenetic analysis, based on an evaluation of 16S rDNA sequences, places M. lentiflavum in an intermediate position between rapidly and slowly growing mycobacteria, closely related to Mycobacterium simiae and Mycobacterium genavense.

  Pathogenesis

• In young children with cervical lymphadenitis and in immunocompromised patients
• One case of vertebral osteomyelitis reported
• Biosafety level 2

  Type strain

• First isolated from a patient with spondylodiscitis. Further isolates from clinical specimens were obtained due to the use of contaminated bronchoscopes. Also recovered from gastric juice, sputum and urine samples.