Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare (MAI) Infection (En español)
An infection caused by two closely related and hard-to-
distinguish bacteria, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium
intracellulare . These two bacteria can be found in drinking
water, dirt, and household dust. Most people are not affected by
the bacteria, but for people with severely weakened immune
systems, the bacteria can cause infection. M. intracellulare
tends to cause lung disease, and M. avium tends to spread
throughout the body (disseminated). Symptoms of disseminated
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection include
fever, night sweats, weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, and
diarrhea. In people infected with HIV, MAI infection that is
outside of the lungs (extrapulmonary) or that has disseminated
is an AIDS-defining condition. See Related Term(s): AIDS-
Defining Condition, Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) Infection,
Opportunistic Infection