title: Management of disease due to Mycobacterium kansasii.
abstract: Mycobacterium kansasii presents clinically in a manner most resembling tuberculosis. Diagnosis is usually not difficult; however, the significance of M kansasii isolates from some patients may be hard to determine. Usually, the presence of even one respiratory culture positive for M kansasii is sufficient to make a diagnosis, though few patients can have single respiratory culture positive for M kansasii without evidence of active disease. If not started on medication, these patients must be followed closely. Effective treatment can usually be accomplished with a rifampin-based regimen, or a rifabutin-based regimen for HIV-seropositive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Short course and intermittent regimens for treating M kansaii disease show promise but are not yet recommended for routine use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Center, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX 75708-3154, USA. david.griffith@uthct.edu
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D019909:Mycobacterium kansasii / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents