syndromes caused by atypical mycobacterial infection
Last reviewed 01/2018
There are five main atypical mycobacterial infections:
- pulmonary disease:
- the commonest atypical mycobacterial infection
- caused by M. kansasii or M. avium-intracellulare
- commonest in white males over 45 years with pre-existing lung disease
- lymphadenitis:
- a disease of childhood
- caused by M. avium-intracellulare
- skin ulcers:
- caused by M. ulcerans
- most commonly seen in developing countries
- injection abscesses:
- are sporadic infections
- caused by M. fortuitum or M. chelonei
- bacteraemia:
- only seen in immunosuppressed patients
- usually caused by M. avium-intracellulare
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare