title: Methylobacterium and its role in health care-associated infection.
abstract: Methylobacterium species are a cause of health care-associated infection, including infections in immunocompromised hosts. The ability of Methylobacterium species to form biofilms and to develop resistance to high temperatures, drying, and disinfecting agents may explain the colonization of Methylobacterium in the hospital environment in, e.g., endoscopes. Due to its slow growth, it can be easily missed during microbiological surveillance of endoscope reprocessing. The purpose of this minireview is to present an overview of documented infections and cross-contaminations with Methylobacterium related to endoscopic procedures and to illustrate the health care-associated relevance of this slow-growing bacterium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovaleva
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Degener
authors.forename: Henny C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van der Mei
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D020580:Methylobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*