Mycobacterial diseases. Tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex.

Pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis occurs in 5 to 35 per cent of AIDS patients, frequently precedes the diagnosis of AIDS, and is increasing in incidence. Clinically, AIDS-associated tuberculosis is similar in presentation to progressive, primary tuberculosis and can be treated effectively with standard antituberculous therapy. Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection, one of the most common AIDS-related opportunistic infections, is best diagnosed by special mycobacterial blood culture techniques. The relationship between MAC infection and constitutional symptoms as well as the value of antimycobacterial therapy for disseminated MAC is controversial.