Mycobacterium avium complex - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) has variable presenting features including chronic cough, weight loss, and fevers.
Increased incidence in patients with underlying lung disease, heavy smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell count <50 cells/microliter also at increased risk of infection.
Diagnosis of pulmonary disease in non-HIV-infected individuals requires repeated isolation of the organism from respiratory secretions, in addition to compatible symptoms and radiographic presentation.
Combination treatment with at least two drugs is essential.

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History & Exam
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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Citations

Key Articles

Griffith DE, Aksamit T, Brown-Elliott BA, et al. An official ATS/IDSA statement: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Feb 15;175(4):367-416.[Abstract][Full Text]
National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Medicine Association, and Infectious Diseases Society of America. Panel on Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: Disseminated mycobacterium avium complex disease. 2019 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Daley CL, Iaccarino JM, Lange C, et al. Treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: an official ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA clinical practice guideline. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 14;71(4):e1-36.[Abstract][Full Text]
Haworth CS, Banks J, Capstick T, et al. British Thoracic Society guidelines for the management of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). Thorax. 2017 Nov;72(suppl 2):ii1-64.[Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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