Mycobacterium arupense  Mycobacterium arupense is a slowly growing mycobacterium first isolated from soil and human sputum samples in Spain. Etymology: arupense, pertaining to the ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, where the type strain was characterized. Microscopy  Colony characteristics  Physiology  There are emerging reports of human pathogenesis caused by "Mycobacterium arupense". Pulmonary infection and tenosynovitis have been documented. A recent case of recurrent soft tissue abscess caused by "Mycobacterium arupense" has been identified.