Exometabolites

Exometabolites are individual small organic compounds (metabolites) that are secreted or released by organisms into their external environment, such as culture media or natural habitats
Zha & Punt 2013 Metabolites 3(1): 119-43
Chugh et al. 2025 Trends in Microbiology 33(5): 546

Some exometabolites affect the host's immune response. They can reduce inflammation or help bacteria survive immune attacks. Recent studies show exometabolites are crucial for antimicrobial resistance and virulence
Heim et al. 2020 Nat Microbiol 5: 1271-1284
Yu et al. 2022a Nat Microbiol 7: 542-555
Cheng et al. 2024 Nat Microbiol 9: 1856-1872

They can include a wide range of molecules, such as amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and secondary metabolites, depending on the organism and environmental conditions. Each exometabolite is a discrete chemical entity that participates in or is the product of metabolic pathways and is found outside the cell
Zha & Punt 2013 Metabolites 3(1): 119-43

see also:
Bacterial metabolites / Microbial metabolites
Exometabolome
Mycobacterium tuberculosis