[Disseminated infection by Mycobacterium scrofulaceum: apropos of 3 cases].

BACKGROUND

Mycobacterium avium-M. Intracellulare complex and Mycobacterium kansasii cause most of nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in AIDS patients in Spain. Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is rarely isolated as a cause of disseminated disease and most of case have been reported before the AIDS occurrence.

METHODS

Three clinical cases of patients with disseminated disease caused by M.scrofulaceum and AIDS are reviewed.

RESULTS

Clinical presentation in all cases was similar to those of other disseminated mycobacterial infection, and was also linked to severe immunosuppression (CD4 cell count < 100 CD4/mm3).

CONCLUSIONS

In our area, M. scrofulaceum is the second species of nontuberculous mycobacteria causing disseminated disease in AIDS patients. The most frequent species is M. avium-M. intracellulare complex. For diagnosis an AIDS patient complaining of febrile syndrome without foci and severe immunosuppression, is mandatory to obtain blood cultures and biopsy or adenopathy aspirates if present. To our knowledge, these are the first reports in our country.