Postulated sources of Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection: isolation of mycobacteria from estuaries and ocean waters.

Mycobacteria biochemically and serologically similar to those isolated from humans have been found in estuaries and ocean waters in the south-eastern United States. This is consistent with the hypothesis that aerosols from these waters are one potential source of infection with these mycobacteria.