Nontuberculous mycobacteria


  • Characteristics
    • Acid-fast bacilli: Ziehl-Neelsen stain
  • Diseases
    • M. avium-intracellulare (Mycobacterium avium complex infection)
      • Clinical features
        • MAC infection often manifests as disseminated disease and typically occurs in patients with advanced immunosuppression (CD4 counts &lt 50).
        • Night sweats, fever, weight loss
        • Focal lymphadenitis
        • Abdominal pains, diarrhea
        • Widespread involvement of the reticuloendothelial system often causes anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, and/or elevated alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase.
      • Histologic findings in the bone marrow include foamy macrophages with intracellular, acid-fast bacilli.
    • M. marinum
      • Fish tank granuloma: skin infection usually of the hand that occur in individuals handling fish (e.g., aquarium handlers)
    • M. scrofulaceum
      • Cervical lymphadenitis in children