MAC Flashcards
MAC
Mycobacterium avium complex
2 related organisms:
1. M. avium
2. M. Intracellulare
Cultured in solid + liquid media
Virulent or avirulent to normal host??
BUT CAN CAUSE ……… in …. pts.
Relatively avirulent to normal host BUT can cause disseminated disease in AIDS patients
Where is MAC found?
Found: soil, water (natural water sources, pools, spas, hot tabs) & animals – acquired, ingestion or inhalation - No person-person transmission
—3 major disease syndromes
Associated with/ caused by :
MAC
- Pulmonary disease, usually adults with intact immune system
- Disseminated disease in patients with AIDS
- Cervical lymphadenitis
• Disease rises from primary acquisition, NOT from latency reactivation
Most common source
. (MAC
Most common source = exposure to recirculating hot water systems
(Jacuzzi?)
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) – pulmonary disease
Risk factors
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic bronchiectasis, prior hospitalization for pneumonia, use of steroids
Pulmonary disease
MoT
Inhalation, disease may not manifest for months or yrs, smoking & COPD is risk factor
Pulmonary disease
Signs symptoms
CHRONIC illness, middle aged man + heavy smoking, COPD, bronchiectasis, cancer—
Chronic productive cough, weight loss, fever, night sweats
Rate of cavitation
TB vs MAC (pulmonary disease)
Rate of cavitation may be higher than TBC
(MAC) – disseminated disease
Associated with
Associated with AIDS & CD4 count <100 (in most cases, CD4 are <50)
-(MAC) – disseminated disease
MoT
Ingestion (most cases) or inhalation – dissemination after localized lung or gut infection
(MAC) – disseminated disease
What happens?
Bacteraemia & dissemination to liver, spleen, nodes & bone marrow
(MAC) – disseminated disease
(( not highlighted)) symptoms
(‘Fever, weight loss, severe anemia, night sweats, abdominal pain, hepatosplenomegaly, intra-
abdominal lymphadenopathy)
.
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) – lymphadenitis
MoT
Cervical or abdominal lymphadenitis if ingested, thoracic lymphadenitis if inhaled
-(MAC) – lymphadenitis
Appearance
Usually granulomas w/o caseation (forms a firm, dry mass like cheese in appearance), may ulcerate & form fistulas