Chromobacterium violaceum - Bacteria

Chromobacterium violaceum

C. violaceum is a Gram-negative bacillus. It is catalase andoxidase positive but indole and urease negative. It is a motile bacterium due to presence of polar and lateral flagella. It is aerobic and facultative anaerobic. It grows on nutrient agar producing a nondiffusible violet pigment, which is soluble in ethanol and insoluble in chloroform and water. C. violaceum is found as saprophytes in water and soil, and in tropical and subtropical countries. Intestinal and genitourinary infections and septicemic illnesses with pneumonia are rare human infec-tions associated with the bacteria. The bacillus is sensitive to erythromycin, tetracycline, carbenicillin, cefoxitin, etc.