Mycobacterium chelonae

Mycobacterium chelonae is a species of the phylum Actinobacteria (Gram-positive bacteria with high guanine and cytosine content, one of the dominant phyla of all bacteria), belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. Mycobacterium chelonae is a rapidly growing mycobacterium, that is found all throughout the environment including sewage and tap water. It can occasionally cause opportunistic infections of humans. It is grouped in Runyon group IV. Type strain: strain CM 6388 = ATCC 35752 = CCUG 47445 = CIP 104535 = DSM 43804 = JCM 6388 = NCTC 946. The complete genome sequence of M. chelonae CCUG 47445 type strain was deposited and published in DNA Data Bank of Japan, European Nucleotide Archive and GenBank in 2016 under the accession number CP007220. On average, 2 cases of nonpulmonary M. chelonae infection are reported in South Australia each year.This bacteria is capable of causing skin, soft tissue and bone infections, particularly after trauma and surgery. It has been documented as a cause of breast infections after nipple piercing.