Mycobacterium brumae is a rapidly growing environmental mycobacterial species identified in 1993. Aside from one 2004 report of a catheter related bloodstream infection no other infections by this organism have been reported. It was first isolated from water, soil and one human sputum sample in Spain.

Description

Microscopy

• Gram-positive, nonmotile, mostly strongly acid-fast rods, 2.0-2.5 µm long and 0.3 to 0.5 µm wide.

Colony characteristics

• Flat, rough, and undulated yellow, nonphotochromogenic colonies

Physiology

• Rapid growth occurs within 5 days at 25°C, 30°C and 37°C, but not at 45°C on Löwenstein-Jensen medium and Middlebrook 7H10 agar.
• Production of thermostable catalase.
• Positive for β-glucosidase, nitrate reductase, penicillinase, trehalase, urease and iron uptake.
• Tween 80 hydrolysis after 10 days.
• No accumulation of niacin, no degradation of salicylate to catechol.
• No growth on MacConkey agar without crystal violet.

Pathogenesis

• In 2004 a patient with breast cancer was reported to have a catheter related bloodstream infection.

Type strain

• First isolated from water, soil and human sputum samples in Barcelona, Spain.
• Strain CR-270 = ATCC 51384 = CCUG 37586 = CIP 103465 = DSM 44177 = JCM 12273.