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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment
Published on: June 23, 2019
[Mycobacterium avium pneumonia in an HIV negative patient]
B Khanlari1, E Burri, F Mihatsch
1Klinik für Infektiologie und Spitalhygiene, Universitätsspital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel.
Abstract:
A 79-year-old patient was admitted with fever and shortness of breath. His medical history included treatment for lung cancer 3 years previously. The patient's clinical and radiological status remained unchanged despite antibiotic treatment for pneumonia. No infectious pathogen could be identified. Treatment with systemic steroids for suspected cryptogenic organizing pneumonitis (COP) was started. Following steroid treatment the patient's shortness of breath ameliorated and C-reactive protein was normal. Three weeks after admission Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) grew in sputa cultures and therefore a diagnosis of MAC pneumonia was made.
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