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The Journal of the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology |
Biblioraphy Information
| ArticleTitle |
Small-colony variants that are problematic in clinical microbiology testing |
| Language |
J |
| AuthorList |
Takehisa Matsumoto |
| Affiliation |
Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences |
| Publication |
J.J.C.M.: 33 (2), 101-108, 2023 |
| Received |
January 18, 2023 |
| Accepted |
|
| Abstract |
Small-colony variants (SCVs) are a subpopulation of slow-growing bacteria with a unique phenotype; SCVs have a slow growth rate, atypical colony morphology, and specific biochemical characteristics. Identification and drug susceptibility testing for SCVs in clinical microbiology can be difficult to obtain correct results. In addition, SCVs are more likely to become established in host cells than the wild type and may cause chronic or recurrent infections due to, for example, decreased susceptibility to antibiotics. In recent years, a variety of SCVs infections have been reported, and causative gene mutations have been identified in carbon dioxide-dependent and glutamine-dependent SCVs, in addition to thymidine-dependent and hemin-dependent, menadione-dependent SCVs. Furthermore, antimicrobial-resistant SCVs are emerging, and clinical microbiology laboratories must be careful not to miss antimicrobial resistance. This review describes the phenotypes and causes associated with the major SCVs isolated from clinical specimens, as well as matters related to microbiological testing. |
| Keywords |
small-colony variants, SCVs |
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