Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium and M. intracellulare (MAI) is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to both increased illness and death in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Early reports of treatment of MAI were disappointing but recent studies have shown that combination antimycobacterial therapy may provide symptomatic relief and an improvement in mycobacteraemia.