不同的临床表现，包括慢性咳嗽、体重减轻和发热。
阅读更多有肺部基础疾病、严重吸烟和过度饮酒的患者发病率升高。
HIV感染者CD4细胞数＜50个/μL时感染风险增加。
诊断非HIV感染者的肺部疾病除了相符的临床表现和影像学表现之外，还需要从呼吸道分泌物中反复分离出病原体。
至少用2种药物的联合治疗是必要的。
鸟-胞内分枝杆菌 (mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, MAI)，也叫鸟分枝杆菌复合群 (mycobacterium avium complex, MAC)，包含两种分枝杆菌：鸟分枝杆菌 和 胞内分枝杆菌。[1]Good RC. Opportunistic pathogens in the genus mycobacterium. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1985;39:347-369.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3904604?tool=bestpractice.com尽管通过分子技术MAI可被鉴定为鸟分枝杆菌或者胞内分枝杆菌，[2]Saito H, Tomioka H, Sato K, et al. Identification of various serovar strains of Mycobacterium avium complex by using DNA probes specific for Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. J Clin Microbiol. 1990;28:1694-1697.http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/28/8/1694?view=long&pmid=2203807http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2203807?tool=bestpractice.com但是这种鉴定分类对患者的预后和治疗并无影响。MAI感染人体后通常引起3种疾病：肺部疾病、颈部淋巴结炎或者播散性疾病。[3]Rosenzweig DY. Pulmonary mycobacterial infections due to Mycobacterium intracellulare-avium complex. Chest. 1979;75:115-119.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/421545?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Wolinsky E. Mycobacterial lymphadenitis in children: a prospective study of 105 nontuberculous cases with long-term follow-up. Clin Infect Dis. 1995;20:954-963.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7795100?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Horsburgh CR Jr, Mason UG, Farhi DC, et al. Disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare: a report of 13 cases and a review of the literature. Medicine. 1985;64:36-48.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3880852?tool=bestpractice.com 近期，第四种综合征已经被报道，即与使用热浴盆相关的过敏性肺炎。[6]Rickman OB, Ryu JH, Fidler ME, et al. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with Mycobacterium avium complex and hot tub use. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002;77:1233-1237.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12440560?tool=bestpractice.com
