2020
Overview
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a group of closely related, slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria, principally Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare, that are widely distributed in soil, water, and other environmental sources. These organisms are opportunistic pathogens that most often cause disease in people with weakened immune systems or underlying lung conditions. In individuals with advanced HIV infection and very low CD4 counts, MAC can produce disseminated infection affecting multiple organs, while in patients with chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease it more commonly causes progressive pulmonary infection. Clinical manifestations may include prolonged fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, chronic cough, lymphadenitis, and gastrointestinal involvement, depending on the form of disease. Diagnosis relies on culture and identification of the organism from respiratory or other specimens combined with compatible clinical and radiologic findings, and treatment typically requires prolonged combination antimicrobial therapy, often built around a macrolide together with other agents. Management of infected patients, including those undergoing procedures or perioperative care, intersects with anesthetic and broader clinical practice. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to the journal's scope and serves as an accurate scientific reference on the topic.
Research published in this journal
1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.