[A new prophylactic agent in AIDS: Ansatipine. Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection is now the most frequent of the opportunistic bacterial infections in AIDS].

Otherwise infrequent, infections by non-tuberculous or atypical mycobacteria are now rising in AIDS. Infection with the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is now the most frequent opportunistic bacterial infection, because of better detection of HIV positive patients. The incidence, which is probably underestimated, is now 14-33% in France. The Mycobacterium avium complex is responsible for 96% of infections by atypical mycobacteria in AIDS patients. Diagnosis of infection by MAC is bacteriological. The clinical picture is non-specific and associates high fever, profuse sweating, weight loss and asthenia, all of which make a severe alteration to the general condition. This infection persists in AIDS patients to a late phase of evolution where Immunodeficiency is profound, that is when the level of CD4 lymphocytes is low. Because of this, it is an increasing and preoccupying problem in patients, since it involves the prognosis of life. This shows the importance of prophylactic treatment for this pathology.