Mycobacteria, a genus of Acinobacteria, are highly prevalent in water and are of concern for immuno compromised humans as they can cause a broad range of serious diseases. ALS Environmental is able to offer a full Mycobacteria speciation to customers who deal with nosocomial settings.
Mycobacteria are of concern in healthcare environments due to their antibiotic resistant nature. The bacteria are naturally resistant to penicillin and can be prevalent even in water treated with chlorine. ALS Environmental is able to identify more than 40 different species of Mycobacteria including M. bovis (commonly known as Bovine Turbeculosis), M. Gordonae (highly prevalent in soil and water but rarely implicated in disease) and M. Xenopi (associated with immunocompromised infections).
'Mycobacteria analysis is becoming increasingly requested by our customers who deal with healthcare premises,' says Pervinder Johal, ALS Environmental’s Operations Manager at its microbiology laboratory in Coventry. 'By supporting one of the largest databases in the UK, ALS Environmental is able to help customers in identifying and eradicating these bacteria from nosocmial settings.'
The company is able to identify such a broad range of Mycobacteria species thanks to its investment in MALDI-ToF confirmations. This technique allows it to confirm instantly the colonies that grow on an agar plate and offer a full speciation.
