Mycobacterial disease in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Mycobacterial disease is an increasingly common and serious problem in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Whereas Mycobacterium avium complex organisms are noncommunicable and extremely difficult to treat, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmissible to patients who do not have the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but is preventable and treatable.