[Mycobacterial infections]

Author dwells upon the recent acquisitions about Mycobacterial diseases, that can be the clinical emerging problem now that tuberculosis is on the decrease. The natural "habitat" of non tubercular Mycobacteria is external environment. In human pathology there are several possible localizations. The boundary line between infection and disease is not easily identifiable, in that these Mycobacteria tend to infect the already damaged tissues. Author then examines the clinical aspects of pulmonary Mycobacterial diseases, emphasizing their frequent association with other pulmonary diseases. The specificity of cutaneous tests is challenged, since a certain diagnosis of Mycobacterial disease is only made by repeated isolations of bacterium. The therapeutic programme and prognosis are conditioned by Mycobacterial pharmacoresistances and by predisposing host conditions.