1975 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 71-77
Since 1950 we treated and followed up 27 patients infected with atypical mycobacteria. One of them was infected with M. kansasii, 5 with M. scloflaceum, 23 with M. intracellulare and three patients showed a mixed infection.
Prognosis was divided into the following four categories; markedly improved, improved, unchanged and aggravated. In the eight markedly improved patients the sputum became negative, the roentgenogram showed improvement with cavity closure and patient returned to full-time work. In the seven improved patients the sputum became negative, the roentgenogram became stable and the patient returned to part-time work. In the 8 unchanged cases the roentgenogram showed persisting cavitation associated with small dose or occasional positive sputum cultures for atypical mycobacteria and the patient returned to part-time work. The 4 aggravated patients showed roetgenographic worsening and discharging persistently a lot of atypical mycobacteria in sputum in spite of anti-tuberculous drug therapy. Eleven patients have been observed for five years or less, seven patients for 7 years, five for 8 to 10 years and six for 11 to 15 years.
