Clinical and laboratory findings of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection (DMAC) in a pair matched case-control study

Specific amplification of gene encoding N-terminal region of catalase-peroxidase protein (KatG-N) for diagnosis of disseminated MAC disease in HIV patients

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) infection is considered as severe complication of advanced HIV/AIDS disease. Currently available various laboratory investigations have not only limited ability to discriminate between MAC infection and tuberculosis but are also laborious and time consuming. The aim of this study was, therefore, to design a molecular-based strategy for specific detection of MAC and its differentiation from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) isolated from the blood specimens of HIV patients. A simple PCR was developed based on the amplification of 120-bp katG-N gene corresponding to the first 40 amino acids of N-terminal catalase-peroxidase (KatG) protein of Mycobacterium avium that shows only ~13% sequence homology by clustal W alignment to N-terminal region of M. tb KatG protein. This assay allowed the accurate and rapid detection of MAC bacteremia, distinguishing it from M. tb in a single PCR reaction without any need for sequencing or hybridization protocol to be performed thereafter. This study produced enough evidence that a significant proportion of Indian HIV patients have disseminated MAC bacteremia, suggesting the utility of M. avium katG-N gene PCR for early detection of MAC disease in HIV patients.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in the sputum of HIV-infected patients: infection or colonization?

It can be difficult to establish the clinical significance of the isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from the sputum of HIV-infected patients. In this observational study, we have investigated factors associated with having NTM infection. During the period of the study, 10 patients had NTM infection and 14 had NTM colonization. Factors associated with having NTM infections were: CD4 lymphocyte count <50 cells/mL (odds ratio [OR] 10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-69.3), haemoglobin <11 g/dL (OR 7.2; 95% CI 1.08-47.9), weight loss (OR 9; 95% CI 1.3-63.9), duration of symptoms for more than a month (OR 54; 95% CI 4.2-692.5), the presence of acid fast bacilli (AFB) in sputum (OR 30.3; 95% CI 2.6-348.9) and repeated positive NTM cultures in other sputum samples (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.6-11.7). In conclusion, we must suspect NTM infection in patients with long-standing symptoms, anaemia, low CD4 lymphocyte count, several positive sputum cultures and when AFB are seen.

Mycobacterium avium complex in patients with HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is a common complication of late-stage HIV-1 infection. Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the rate of MAC infection has declined substantially, but patients with low CD4 cell counts remain at risk. Among patients in the Johns Hopkins cohort with advanced HIV disease, the proportion developing MAC has fallen from 16% before 1996 to 4% after 1996, with a current rate of less than 1% per year. Factors associated with developing MAC include younger age, no use of HAART, and enrollment before 1996. Prophylaxis with azithromycin or clarithromycin is recommended for all patients with CD4 counts less than 50 cells/mL. Optimum treatment for disseminated MAC includes clarithromycin and ethambutol, and another investigation suggests that the addition of rifabutin might reduce mortality. Both prophylaxis and treatment of disseminated MAC can be discontinued in patients who have responded to HAART, and specific guidelines for withdrawing treatment have been published. Although HAART has altered the frequency and outcome of MAC infection, it remains an important complication of AIDS.