Mycobacterium is a genus of Actinobacteria, given its own family, the Mycobacteriaceae. The genus includes pathogens known to cause serious diseases in mammals, including tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and the classic Hansen's strain of leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae).

The Greek prefix myco- means “fungus,” alluding to the way mycobacteria have been observed to grow in a mold-like fashion on the surface of liquids when cultured.

Pediatric intracranial Mycobacterium abscessus infection in a 16-month-old female with Neurofibromatosis type 1, successfully treated including excisional biopsy combined with high dose steroids and 16 weeks of triple antimicrobial therapy that resulted in clinical cure and an excellent neurologic outcome ¹⁾.