In addition, pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infections are increasingly seen in the elderly , especially white women without pre-existing lung disease. Solitary lung nodule 6. The predictive value of a stool culture is low. Unlike Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium kansasii primarily causes pulmonary disease, only occasionally disseminating in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. The clinical manifestations include both indolent or rapidly progressive disease.
Clinical data suggest that patients do better with earlier therapy.
Mycobacterium kansasii isolated from respiratory cultures is generally regarded as a pathogen. Culture techniques and drug susceptibility testing similar to that used with Mycobacterium tuberculosis , can also be performed in patients with Mycobacterium kansasii infection. The rapidly growing mycobacteria cause disease more commonly than was previously thought. Cutaneous manifestations predominate. Most cases are sporadic and community-acquired, although nosocomial cases have also been reported.