| atypical mycobacterial infection | <microbiology> Infection with organisms from the Mycobacterium genus other than tuberculosis. Risk factors include immunocompromised patients and those with AIDS. Mycobacterium avium intracellulare is an example which frequently infects AIDS patients. Atypical mycobacterial infections can cause abscesses, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Treatment can be difficult due to the emergence of resistance to standard antitubercular antibiotics. (27 Sep 1997) |
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