title: Acid-alcohol fast bacilli in sputa of HIV-infected patients.
abstract: We identified 34 HIV-infected patients with sputum smear positive for acid-alcohol fast bacilli (AAFB) to determine any factors predictive of subsequent species identification. There were 20 cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), 9 cases of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI), 3 cases of Mycobacterium kansasii and one each of Mycobacterium malmoense and Mycobacterium fortuitum. Factors associated with isolation of MAI were lower CD4 cell count, a higher incidence of previous AIDS diagnosis, a history of dyspnoea and a normal chest X-ray. The organism was isolated from blood cultures in 58% of patients with MTB and 78% of patients with MAI infection. Disseminated disease was diagnosed in 45% of MTB patients and 33% of MAI patients.
authors.affiliation: St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK. anns@crusaid-star.co.uk
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Azadian
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Easterbrook
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gazzard
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D019907:Mycobacterium fortuitum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019909:Mycobacterium kansasii / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology