Gastro-intestinal involvement in Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection of patients with HIV

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 55 - 66
• Main Authors: Hellyer, T.J., Brown, I.N., Taylor, M.B., Allen, B.W., Easmon, C.S.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Feces - microbiology; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases - complications; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Seropositivity - complications; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium avium Complex - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - complications; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - microbiology; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - mortality; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification; Time Factors; Human; Immunopathology; Mycobacterium avium; AIDS; Hemopathy; Mycobacterial infection; Gastrointestinal; Infection; Microbiological investigation; Mycobacteriales; Viral disease; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Digestive diseases; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Diagnosis; Feces
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/0163-4453(93)96840-M

In a study of 866 faecal specimens from 437 persons, Mycobacterium aviumintracellulare (MAI) was isolated from 14·8 % patients with AIDS and 1·3 % patients with symptomatic HIV infection but not from any HIV seronegative or asymptomatic HIV seropositive persons. These data support the hypothesis that the gastro-intestinal tract is the portal of entry for MAI and confirm that MAI infection is a manifestation of late-stage HIV disease. Positive faecal cultures correlated well with disseminated disease. The use of faecal cultures for early diagnosis is therefore recommended.