Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Janak Koirala, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 9, 2012
 

History

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection usually presents in 1 of 3 forms:

  • Pulmonary MAC infection in immunocompetent hosts
  • Disseminated MAC (DMAC) infection in individuals with advanced AIDS
  • MAC lymphadenitis in children

Pulmonary MAC infection in immunocompetent hosts generally manifests as cough, sputum production, weight loss, fever, lethargy, and night sweats. The onset of symptoms is insidious. Symptoms may be present for weeks to months. Many patients have only a chronic cough with purulent sputum production. Hemoptysis is rare in MAC infection. Less commonly, MAC has been associated with hot-tub lung, a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like lung disease due to exposure to MAC in hot tubs.

Patients with advanced AIDS (generally with CD4 counts < 50 cells/µL) who have DMAC infection commonly present with fever of unknown origin (FUO). Usual signs and symptoms are as follows:

  • Sweating
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath
  • Right upper quadrant abdominal pain

In addition, other reported MAC infection manifestations in patients with AIDS have included mastitis, pyomyositis, cutaneous abscess, brain abscess, and GI mycobacteriosis.

Immune reconstitution syndrome associated with MAC has been reported in patients with underlying MAC infection. These cases develop shortly after the patient initiates HAART.

MAC lymphadenitis is predominantly a disease of children aged 1-4 years, primarily involving unilateral cervical lymph nodes. Submandibular and submaxillary lymph nodes are the usual sites, but preauricular, postauricular, and submental nodes may also be affected. Rarely, infection of the axillary, epitrochlear, or inguinal lymph nodes may develop following direct cutaneous inoculation.

The lymph nodes usually enlarge insidiously but may enlarge more rapidly in younger children. The lymphadenitis generally resolves spontaneously, but the lymph nodes may also caseate and rupture through the skin, forming a sinus tract with chronic discharge.

Less commonly, MAC may produce any of the following:

  • Skin and soft-tissue infections
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Peritonitis (in patients with cirrhosis)
  • Bursitis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Tenosynovitis

Any history of the introduction of a foreign object (eg, needle, splinter) should be sought if cutaneous MAC infection is suspected.

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Physical Examination

Physical findings in MAC infection depend on the form of infection and the patient. In immunocompetent patients with pulmonary MAC infection, lung crackles, rhonchi, or both can generally be heard on auscultation. Additionally, depending on the type of lung lesion and severity of infection, patients with pulmonary MAC infection may have tachypnea, dullness on chest percussion, or bronchial breath sounds.

DMAC infection in patients with AIDS can cause generalized wasting, skin pallor, tender hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy.

Lymphadenitis in children can cause unilateral enlargement of submandibular, preauricular, parotid, and/or postauricular lymph nodes. Involved nodes are usually multiple and rubbery to firm and may appear to be fixed to deeper structures. They may become matted together as the disease progresses. The overlying skin may appear shiny, thin, and erythematous or violaceous. Sinus tracts may be present in advanced cases.

Patients with synovitis may present with pain and swelling of a joint or features of bursitis or tenosynovitis.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Janak Koirala, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA  Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Janak Koirala, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, International AIDS Society, International Society for Infectious Diseases, and International Society of Travel Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP  Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Pulmonary Physiology Laboratory; Director of Research in Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Thoracic Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Aaron Glatt, MD  Professor of Clinical Medicine, New York Medical College; President and CEO, Former Chief Medical Officer, Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, St Joseph Hospital (formerly New Island Hospital)

Aaron Glatt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Thoracic Society, American Venereal Disease Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, International AIDS Society, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author William B Harley, MD,to the development and writing of the source article.

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CT thorax of a 77-year-old woman who presented with chronic cough and sputum production, without a history of underlying pre-existing lung disease. Sputum culture grew Mycobacterium avium complex. The diagnosis was Lady Windermere syndrome.
 
 
 
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