Mycobacterium avium
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- Mycobacterium avium
- Acid fast rods
- All mycobacterium are gram + acid fast rods
- Usually seen in immunocompromised population
- E.g. AIDS
- Causes disseminated granulomatous disease in every organ system
- Treatment/Prophylaxis
- Macrolide (clarithromycin/azithromycin)
- Given prophylactically in AIDS when CD4+ count <50 cells/mm^3
- Rifamycin (rifabutin) and ethambutol are adjuvant therapies
- Often resistant to mycobacterial drugs
- E.g. INH, etc.
- Macrolide (clarithromycin/azithromycin)
- Acid fast rods