Mycobacterium Avium Intracellular Complex

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Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)

Can MAC Be Prevented? The bacteria that cause MAC are very common. It is not possible to avoid being exposed. The best way to prevent MAC is to take strong antiretroviral medications (ARVs). Even if your CD4 cell count drops very low, there are drugs that can stop MAC disease from developing in up to 50% of people. The antibiotic drugs azithromycin, rifabutin and clarithromycin have been used to prevent MAC. These drugs are usually prescribed...

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Mycobacterium avium intracellulare

Has Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare been isolated from cerebrospinal fluid?...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

MAI (MAC) has been rarely shown to cause infection of the central nervous system (such as a brain abscess), and therefore could be isolated from cerebrospinal fluid.... Read more »

Tolerating Clarithromycin

I have a patient with DMAC having difficulty tolerating clarithromycin (nausea ~ 1 hour after taking). He was previously prophylaxed with azithromycin and his organism is sensitive only to clarithro and rifabutin.Any tips on dealing with the nausea?...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Have you tired an antiemetic i/2 to 1 hr before the clarithromycin? That may make it more manageable. Also-- it's pretty unusual for MAC to be resistant to one azalide and susceptible to another. How sure are you that these results are... Read more »

mycobacterium avium complex

Dear Doctor,I would like to know the answer to my question ; what isthe connection between HIV/AIDS and TB? An acquaintanceof mine had an acid- fast-bacilli sputum culture done and the results were mycobacterium avium complex. Negativefor TB. I...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

While Mycobacterium avium is considered an HIV related infection it can also infect people who do not have HIV- it can cause lung disease in people with underlying lung diseases and can also sometimes be a comtaminant- and not really cause any... Read more »

mycobacterium avium complex

Hello, my brother has colon cancer and he also has full blown aids and now doctors have told our family that he has the mac I am not too clear as to what this disease mean and is their a cure for this as well will it complicate what he is currently...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Thanks for your question.There is a lot on TheBody about MAC infection (Mycobacterium avium complex) (do a quick search, you'll find more). In short, MAC is a bacterial infection that affects the lymph nodes, blood stream and bone marrow of... Read more »

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Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)

Posted by Anonymous

Good day! I just found out that I have some bacteria in my blood. I'm low with t4cell at 1 so my doctor says that I have MAC. I wanted to know if anyone has experience this and has anyone gotten better. This could explain my many symptoms... Read more »

Stopping Therapy for Mycobaterium Avium Infection

Posted by Anonymous, 6 Replies

Within the past month and a half, my partner has become sick. He has consistantly [consisted] tested negative for HIV. He has been diagnosed with a mycobacterium avium infection in his bone marrow. Unfortunately the treatment looks pretty harsh from... Read more »

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Posted by rachelle07

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Good information on the board

Posted by Jackie_Blue, 2 Replies

There has been a lot of good information posted lately. However I've seen a couple of things I would like to clear up.

ARS/ARC are not the same things. There is a stage between initial infection and AIDS. It used to be called Aids Related Complex... Read more »

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