Prevalence of Disseminated Mycobacterium Avium
Complex Infection in Thai AIDS Patients
CHAROEN CHUCHOTTAWORN, M.D.*,
SOMSIT TANSUPHSA W ADIKUL, M.D.***,
PACHAREE KANTIPONG, M.D.*****,
BOONMEE SATHAPATAYAWONGS, M.D.**,
SURAPOL SUWANAGOOL, M.D.****,
SOPA PORNCHAIPOONTHA VEE, Cert. Med.Sci. *
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Central Chest Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000,
** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok I 0400,
*** Department of Medicine, Bamrasnaradura Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi I 1000,
**** Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.
Bangkok I 0700,
***** Department of Medicine, Chiang Rai Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Chiang Rai 50000, Thailand.
AbstractInfections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), although rare in immuno-com-
petent individuals, can potentially produce problems in immunocompromised patients such as
those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this study, hemocultures for myco-
bacteria using radiometric BACTEC 13A media were taken from 334 patients with known human
immunodeficiency virus infection admitted to four referral hospitals with fever of unknown site of
infection and negative blood cultures for pathogenic bacteria. The mycobacterial hemocultures
were positive for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in 58 patients ( 17.4%) and positive for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 34 patients (10.2%). The results of this study have proved that
MAC infection, indeed, exists among Thai AIDS patients. The prevalence of MAC infection in
Thailand is very high and comparable to that in the western countries. Physicians taking care of
AIDS patients in Thailand should be aware of potential MAC infection, particularly in advanced
cases. Considering the high prevalence of infection, primary prophylaxis against MAC infection
in advanced AIDS patients is recommended.
Keywords : Mycobacterium Avium Complex Infection, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome,
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Thailand
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