Project: PRJDB6557
Mycobacterium abscessus, formerly Mycobacterium chelonae subsp. abscessus, is a rapid-growing Mycobacterium sp., commonly isolated from soil and water. Recently, there was a taxonomic proposal that Mycobacterium abscessus should be divided into three subspecies such as Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus (Mycobacterium abscessus sensu stricto), Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense and Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii because of the results of whole genome sequencing analysis. Now it was renamed as Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC). This organism causes a chronic lung infection and also causes wound, ear and skin infections. It was also recently reported there was a potential evidence that the majority of MABC infections were acquired through transmission via fomites and aerosols and of recently emerged dominant circulating clones that have spread globally. This organism is very resistant to many commonly used antibiotics, which makes treatment difficult.