MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM-LIKE PAPULES IN AN AIDS PATIENT WITH MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM COMPLEX INFECTION

A 38-year-old HIV-positive man had several attacks of high fever assoc iated with extensive perspiration over a 10-week period. Simultaneousl y, he developed molluscum contagiosum-like papules and an erythematous plaque on the face, ulcerated papules on both shoulders and buttocks and subcutaneous nodules on the arms. Histological examination of biop sy specimens revealed a diffuse, histiocytic infiltrate with abundant rod-shaped bacteria. Mycobacterium avium complex was cultured from the tissue and Mycobacterium avium complex DNA was detected by the polyme rase chain reaction. The diagnosis of disseminated disease was additio nally confirmed by culturing Mycobacterium avium complex from blood, s putum and stool. The skin lesions healed completely within 10 weeks by a multiagent as the patient was treated with a drug therapy. We descr ibe the differential diagnosis, diagnostic procedures and therapy of d isseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium complex.