Wallace R J
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler 75710, USA.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1994 Nov;13(11):953-60. doi: 10.1007/BF02111497.
Rapidly growing mycobacteria are a complex group of environmental organisms that cause human disease. Eight taxonomic groups of pathogens are recognized of which three, the Mycobacterium chelonae-like organism (MCLO) and the two Mycobacterium fortuitum third biovariant groups, have yet to receive names pending DNA-DNA homology studies. Clinical disease due to all eight taxons usually consists of skin or soft tissue infections following trauma. Nosocomial disease has become increasingly important, pseudoepidemics associated with contaminated automated endoscopic washing machines being the most recently described manifestation. The development of DNA fingerprinting technology, especially pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, has improved the possibilities of studying the epidemiology of these infections. Pulmonary disease, primarily due to Mycobacterium abscessus, and disseminated cutaneous disease due to Mycobacterium chelonae, have recently been characterized. Imipenem and the newer macrolide clarithromycin represent important new therapeutic agents active against these species. Other important therapeutic agents include amikacin and the newer quinolones, which have variable degrees of susceptibility within different taxonomic groups, necessitating susceptibility testing.
快速生长分枝杆菌是一组复杂的环境微生物，可导致人类疾病。已确认有八个分类学上的病原体组，其中三个，即类龟分枝杆菌（MCLO）和两个偶然分枝杆菌第三生物变种组，在进行DNA-DNA同源性研究之前尚未命名。所有八个分类单元引起的临床疾病通常包括创伤后皮肤或软组织感染。医院感染变得越来越重要，与自动内镜清洗机污染相关的假性流行是最近描述的表现。DNA指纹技术的发展，尤其是脉冲场凝胶电泳，提高了研究这些感染流行病学的可能性。最近已对主要由脓肿分枝杆菌引起的肺部疾病和由龟分枝杆菌引起的播散性皮肤疾病进行了特征描述。亚胺培南和新型大环内酯类药物克拉霉素是对这些菌种有效的重要新型治疗药物。其他重要的治疗药物包括阿米卡星和新型喹诺酮类药物，它们在不同分类组中的敏感性程度不同，因此需要进行药敏试验。
