Mycobacteria

 

Mycobacteria: In water damaged indoor environments are other “pathogens” (disease causing to humans) besides fungus may exist. Mycobacterium is one of them. Mycobacteria can colonize in their hosts without the hosts showing any adverse symptoms or health signs. For example, billions of people around the world have asymptomatic infections of M. tuberculosis.

Mycobacterial infections are notoriously difficult to treat. The organisms are hardy due to their cell wall, which is neither truly Gram negative nor positive. In addition, they are naturally resistant to a number of antibiotics that disrupt cell-wall biosynthesis, such as penicillin. Due to their unique cell wall, they can survive long exposure to acids, alkalis, detergents, oxidative bursts, lysis by complement, and many antibiotics.