Long-term results of medical treatment in mycobacterium intracellulare infection

摘要: Abstract Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (the "Battey bacillus") was deemed to be pathogenic in 85 cases of pulmonary disease and five extrapulmonary lesions which the patients were treated local chest clinics Arkansas Department Health's tuberculosis program from 1970 1975. Multiple drug chemotherapy initially successful converting sputum cultures negative 68 (80 per cent) healing all lesions. In 17 (25 disease, initial regimen therapy failed convert bacteriology negative. Relapse occurred 16 (23 conversion occurred, either during or following therapy, only seven (44 did respond a subsequent course therapy. Ultimately, 39 (46 remained bacteriologically at end three eight years observation. The drugs most likely produce therapeutic effect are ethambutol, ethionamide cycloserine. However, because uncertain pathogenicity this organism many considerable morbidity multiple-drug regimens that must employed, great care should exercised certain is truly behaving as pathogen: i.e., repeatedly present significant numbers culture associated with lesion producing illness.