A pseudo-outbreak of Methylobacterium mesophilica isolated from patients undergoing bronchoscopy.

An unusual, slow growing, pink-pigmented gram-negative bacillus was isolated from bronchoscopy specimens of seven patients over a three-month period. The organism was identified as Methylobacter mesophilica. None of the patients were believed to be infected with Methylobacter mesophilica. The results of environmental cultures showed that the organism was present in tap water from the bronchoscopy room.