Syndromes caused by atypical mycobacterial infection

There are five main atypical mycobacterial infections:

• pulmonary disease:
  • the commonest atypical mycobacterial infection
  • caused by M. kansasii or M. avium-intracellulare
  • commonest in white males over 45 years with pre-existing lung disease
    
    
• lymphadenitis:
  • a disease of childhood
  • caused by M. avium-intracellulare
    
    
• skin ulcers:
  • caused by M. ulcerans
  • most commonly seen in developing countries
    
    
• injection abscesses:
  • are sporadic infections
  • caused by M. fortuitum or M. chelonei
    
    
• bacteraemia:
  • only seen in immunosuppressed patients
  • usually caused by M. avium-intracellulare