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Mycobacterium avium

A species of aerobic, Gram positive, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria. This species is acid fast, catalase positive, niacin, peroxidase, nitrate reductase, and urease negative, and may be susceptible to pnitrobenzoate, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, rifampin, and streptomycin. M. avium is found in soil and dust particles and can cause infection when inhaled or ingested, especially causing disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients.