Nontuberculous mycobacterium disease with pleural empyema in a patient with advanced AIDS

Abstract

Pleural involvement in nontuberculous mycobacterium infection has rarely been reported. We present a case of a patient with advanced AIDS, not on antiretroviral therapy, who presented with massive pleural empyema and splenic and liver abscess secondary to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex. She was a 42-year-old female who was admitted with fever, chills, weight loss, and productive cough of 3 weeks duration. Her pleural fluid cultures were positive for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex, and no other organism was identified. Our patient had good outcome after treatment with antitubercular agents (isoniazid, rifabutin, and clarithromycin).