Mycobacterium
[mi″ko-bak-tēr´e-um] a genus of gram-positive, aerobic, acid-fast bacteria, occurring as slightly curved or straight rods. It contains many species, including the highly pathogenic organisms that cause
tuberculosis (
M. tuberculo´sis) and
leprosy (
M. lep´rae).
M. a´vium causes tuberculosis in birds and pigs and pulmonary disease in humans.
M. bo´vis is the bovine tubercle bacillus and can cause tuberculosis in humans who drink infected milk (strict testing of cattle makes this uncommon in developed countries); an attenuated strain is used to prepare
BCG vaccine.
M. chelo´nae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes synovial lesions, gluteal abscesses, and gross lesions in various organs.
M. fortu´itum causes lesions of the lung, bone, or soft tissue following trauma.
M. haemo´philum causes skin lesions.
M. ho´minis is a common inhabitant of the vagina and cervix and causes infections of the male and female reproductive tracts, as well as respiratory disease and pharyngitis.
M. intracellula´re occasionally causes chronic pulmonary disease in adults and lymph node infection in children.
M. kansa´sii causes a tuberculosis-like disease.
M. mari´num (also known as
M. bal´nei) is the agent of
swimming pool granuloma.
mycobacterium
[mi″ko-bak-tē″re-um] (L.) 1. an individual organism of the genus Mycobacterium.
2. a slender, acid-fast microorganism resembling the bacillus that causes tuberculosis.
nontuberculous mycobacteria mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis or M. bovis, consisting of nonpathogens and pathogens causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients and infections in otherwise normal individuals.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mycobacterium
(mī'kō-bak-tē'rē-ŭm), A genus of aerobic, nonmotile bacteria (family Mycobacteriaceae) containing gram-positive, acid-fast, slender, straight or slightly curved rods; slender filaments occasionally occur, but branched forms rarely are produced. Parasitic and saprophytic species occur. Several of species are associated with infections in immunocompromised people, especially those with AIDS. The type species is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is the type genus of the family Mycobacteriaceae.
[myco- + bacterium]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
mycobacterium
(mī′kō-băk-tîr′ē-əm)n. pl. mycobac·teria (-tîr′ē-ə) Any of various rod-shaped, aerobic, often pathogenic bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium, including the causative agents of tuberculosis and leprosy.
my′co·bac·ter′i·al adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Mycobacterium
A genus of obligate aerobic bacteria, family Mycobacteriaceae, order Actinomycetales. All myobacteria are capable of producing the typical chronic inflammation, Langhans’ giant cells and caseating necrosis, and are indistinguishable by acid-fast staining (due to the high lipid concentration in the outer cell wall). Skin is the usual portal of entry for non-tuberculous mycobacteria.Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mycobacterium
A genus of obligate aerobic bacteria, family Mycobacteriaceae, order Actinomycetales; all are capable of producing the typical chronic inflammation, Langhans' giant cells and caseating necrosis, and are indistinguishable by acid-fast staining–due to the high lipid concentration in the outer cell wall; skin is the usual portal of entry for non-TB mycobacteria. See Acid-fast stain, Atypical mycobacteria, Buruli ulcer, Langhans' giant cells, MOTT, Nontuberculous mycobacteria, Prosector's wart, Runyon classification, Scrofula, Tuberculosis. McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
My·co·bac·te·ri·um
(mī'kō-bak-tēr'ē-ŭm) A genus of aerobic, nonmotile bacteria (family Mycobacteriaceae) containing gram-positive, acid-fast, slender, straight or slightly curved rods; slender filaments occasionally occur, but branched forms rarely are produced. Parasitic and saprophytic species occur. Some species are associated with infections in immunocompromised people, especially those with AIDS. The type species is M. tuberculosis. It is the type genus of the family Mycobacteriaceae.
[myco- + bacterium]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
Mycobacterium
A genus of ACID FAST bacteria that contains a number of species causing TUBERCULOSIS in humans and other animals and HANSEN'S DISEASE in humans. Species of medical importance include Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium ulcerans .Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
My·co·bac·te·ri·um
(mī'kō-bak-tēr'ē-ŭm) A genus of aerobic, nonmotile bacteria. Some species are associated with infections in immunocompromised people, especially those with AIDS. The type species is M. tuberculosis.
[myco- + bacterium]
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012