We were greatly impressed by the Joint Tuberculosis Committee guidelines on the management of opportunist mycobacterial infections. We do, however, wonder why the word “opportunist” has been used to describe the mycobacteria, other than the M tuberculosis complex, that cause human disease. All mycobacteria causing disease, even the M tuberculosis complex, are opportunists. Thus, the latter are ...

Nontuberculous mycobacteria infrequently cause disseminated infections in immunocompetent hosts. However, they are increasingly being recognized in immunocompromised patients. We present the case of a 40-year-old HIV-positive male presenting with lymphadenopathies and pancytopenia in whom disseminated infection, with bone marrow involvement by Mycobacterium genavense (M. genavense) was diagnosed.

www.thoracic.org C LI P A N D C O P Y What causes NTM disease? NTM comprise more than 160 different species of bacteria that are found naturally in the environment. The existing species (types) of NTM can vary from place to place in the world. The most common species causing disease is called Mycobacterium avium complex. The next most common are Mycobacterium abscessus complex and Mycobacterium...

It is not known whether atypical Mycobacterium (AM) causes peritonitis in humans. We described a case of tuberculosis-like peritonitis caused by an AM. Genetic analysis of the biopsy specimens suggested an AM infection. Thus, we concluded that peritonitis in humans can be caused by some AM species as well as by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

We were greatly impressed by the Joint Tuberculosis Committee guidelines on the management of opportunist mycobacterial infections. We do, however, wonder why the word “opportunist” has been used to describe the mycobacteria, other than the M tuberculosis complex, that cause human disease. All mycobacteria causing disease, even the M tuberculosis complex, are opportunists. Thus, the latter are ...