[Chromobacterium violaceum, opportunist pathogenic bacteria in tropical and subtropical regions]

Chromobacterium violaceum is isolated from soil and waters in tropical and subtropical areas. This Gram negative bacillus is considered as a saprophyte, but occasionally it can act as an opportunistic pathogen for animals and man, and cause fatal septicaemia from skin lesion with many liver and lung abscesses. Classification, nomenclature, media used to isolation, characters useful to identification (morphology, cultural and biochemical traits, violacein pigmentation), differentiation from related violet-pigmented species and from Vibrionaceae (when C. violaceum cultures are not pigmented), antibiotics resistance and susceptibility, experimental and natural pathogenicity are emphasized.