Rhodococcus species

An aerobic, gram-positive, branching filamentous bacterium that fragments into bacilli and cocci. They produce white, cream, yellow, coral, pink, orange or red colonies. Some organisms produce large amounts of slime resulting in a mucoid looking colony. They have been isolated from soil, fresh water, marine water, the gut of arthropods, and the gastrointestinal tract and feces of farm animals (herbivores and swine). It is an animal and human pathogen, especially those patients that are immunocompromised.

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