ABOUT 2 CASES OF MYCOBACTERIUM-SIMIAE INFECTION IN AIDS - REVIEW OF THE PATHOGENICITY

Mycobacterium simiae is an ubiquitous species rarely involved as a cau se of human infection. Its pathogenicity remains therefore unclear and controversial. Disseminated infections with M. simiae occur rarely an d only 7 cases have been reported in patients with acquired immunodefi ciency syndrome (AIDS). At least, two were mixed infections caused by M. simiae and M. avium-intracellulare. We report the case of two AIDS patients presenting with pure M. simiae infections : one was a dissemi nated infection and the other a pulmonary infection. Epidemiology and pathogenicity of M. simiae in pulmonary, extra-pulmonary and dissemina ted infections are reviewed.