Tsukamurella species

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Gram stain Culture

General information
- Tsukamurella species are frequently misidentified as Rhodococcus or Corynebacterium species.
  
  Taxonomy
  Family: Tsukamurellaceae
  
  Natural habitats
  They have been found in soil, sludge, and arthropods.
  
  Clinical significance
  Are rarely found in humans.
  
  Can cause opportunistic infections in humans.
  
  Known infections are from the skin, peritonitis and catheter-related sepsis.
Gram stain
- Gram positive rods,
  
  0.5-0.8 x 1.0-5 µm,
  
  straight to slide curved long rods, occur singly, in pairs, or in groups, very short rods may be seen (resembling difteroids),
  
  no apparent branching.
  
  Are often variable colored and granulated.
  
  Mistake with Corynebacterium is possible.
  
  modified Kinyoun
  weakly / partially acid fast, sometimes strong positive
Culture characteristics
- Obligate aerobic
  
  BA: colonies are white, creamy to orange, small with convex elevation and may have rhizoid edges.
  
  Colonies can be smooth or rough (mostly after prolonged incubation)
  
  Aerial hyphae: negative
  
  McConkey: growth
  
  BBAØ: no growth
Characteristics
References
- James Versalovic et al.(2011) Manual of Clinical Microbiology 10th Edition