Mycobacterium abscessus

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of aerobic, Gram positive, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria. This species is acid-fast, nonmotile, does not reduce nitrate, is amidase, urease and nicotinamidase positive and benzamidase, isonicotinamidase, succinamidase and acetamidase negative. M. abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacterium found in water, soil and dust, and can cause a variety of serious infections of the skin, soft tissues and lungs, especially in persons with chronic lung diseases.

**Synonyms:** - MYCOBACTERIUM ABSCESSUS - Mycobacterium chelonae subsp. abscessus - Mycobacterium chelonae subsp. abscessus