Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
09:02
An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
Published on: February 17, 2014
Disseminated disease due to Mycobacterium avium complex in AIDS
QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is common in advanced HIV/AIDS, causing significant illness. However, it may not impact overall survival, suggesting surveillance and early diagnosis could be alternatives to prophylaxis.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- HIV/AIDS Research
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disseminated infections are a significant opportunistic infection in patients with advanced HIV.
- Understanding the clinical presentation, incidence, and impact on survival of disseminated MAC in HIV-infected individuals is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the incidence, clinical features, and survival outcomes of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in a cohort of HIV-infected patients.
- To compare clinical characteristics and survival between HIV patients with disseminated MAC and matched controls without disseminated MAC.
- To evaluate the impact of disseminated MAC on overall survival in the context of AIDS and explore potential management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 702 HIV-infected patients, with a focus on 46 cases of disseminated MAC.
- Case-matched control study comparing patients with disseminated MAC to AIDS cases without disseminated MAC.
- Statistical analysis to control for confounding variables influencing survival and to compare incidence and survival times.
Main Results:
- Disseminated MAC was diagnosed antemortem in 18% of AIDS patients and was the AIDS-defining diagnosis in 6%.
- Patients with disseminated MAC presented with lower CD4+ counts (<10 cells/mm3), weight loss, anemia, leucopenia, and elevated liver enzymes.
- Median survival after disseminated MAC diagnosis was 6 months, but overall survival from AIDS diagnosis was not significantly different between those who did and did not develop disseminated MAC.
Conclusions:
- Disseminated MAC significantly contributes to morbidity in AIDS patients and its incidence rises with prolonged AIDS survival.
- While survival post-diagnosis is limited, disseminated MAC may not affect overall survival in AIDS patients.
- In low-incidence settings, surveillance and early diagnosis might be a viable alternative to MAC prophylaxis.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis II
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While its primary impact is on the lungs, leading to pulmonary tuberculosis, it can also affect various other organs, a condition referred to as extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
01:31Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
01:23Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, primarily targeting the lungs and spreading through airborne transmission. Infection begins when aerosolized droplet nuclei, expelled by an individual with active TB, are inhaled by another person. These microscopic particles carry Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Upon reaching the alveoli, the bacilli are engulfed by alveolar macrophages. However, due to their specialized lipid-rich cell wall, these pathogens...
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...