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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Microbe Interactions in Wound Biofilm Formation
Published on: June 16, 2023
Atypical Wound Pathogens
1Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine , New York, New York.
Background:
Atypical wound pathogens may be so described because they are uncommon pathogens of soft tissue among human beings, or because they may be fastidious and difficult to recover/isolate in the laboratory.
Methods:
A review of pertinent English-language literature was performed.
Results:
These wound pathogens are a diverse lot, including aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative bacilli, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and bacteria that cannot be characterized conventionally because they lack a cell wall (the Mycoplasmataceae). They are diverse with respect to their virulence, but many are opportunistic pathogens.
Conclusions:
Among these atypical pathogens, clinical reports are most common of wound infections caused by Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma (sometimes as co-infecting agents), and the so-called rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (Runyon Type IV; e.g., M. chelonae).
Insights
Atypical wound pathogens, often difficult to isolate, include diverse bacteria like Mycoplasma and rapidly growing mycobacteria. These opportunistic agents commonly cause wound infections, presenting diagnostic challenges.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Atypical wound pathogens are defined by their uncommon occurrence in human soft tissue infections or laboratory isolation difficulties.
- These pathogens encompass a broad range of microorganisms, including fastidious bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and characterize atypical wound pathogens.
- To identify common atypical pathogens responsible for human wound infections.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of English-language literature was conducted.
Main Results:
- Atypical pathogens include diverse aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative bacilli.
- This group also comprises non-tuberculous mycobacteria and cell-wall-deficient bacteria (Mycoplasmataceae).
- Many of these opportunistic pathogens exhibit varied virulence.
Conclusions:
- Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma and rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (Runyon Type IV, e.g., M. chelonae) are the most frequently reported atypical pathogens in clinical wound infections.
- These organisms can act as co-infecting agents.
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