DISSEMINATED MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM COMPLEX IN PATIENTS WITH AIDS

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) frequently and innocuously colonizes healthy individuals; however, disseminated MAC (DMAC), also known as MAC disease, is the most common bacterial infection in patients with a cquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). DMAC also occurs in other im munocompromised patients. DMAC is a late complication in the natural h istory of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when T-helper cell counts drop below 100 cells per mm(3). Because DMAC is not reportable for su rveillance purposes in the United States its prevalence is unknown. Al though environmental water sources constitute the greatest human expos ure risk, a relationship between clinical and environmental MAC strain s has not been established. DMAC generally is preceded by gastrointest inal or respiratory colonization. Rapid MAC identification in clinical specimens facilitates the evaluation and provision of new drug therap ies and treatment strategies.