Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infections in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

This review examines an important bacterial infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite occasional infections with bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Salmonella, and Nocardia in patients with AIDS, the primary problems of AIDS and invading bacterial infections center around mycobacteriosis. A unique feature of AIDS has been the common identification of disseminated infections with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. The following discussion examines our present understanding of this group of organisms and how they interact with the compromised host.