01662nas a2200205 4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653001100066653000900077653002900086653001700115100001500132700001400147245006200161300001200223490000700235520120000242022001401442 1998 d c1998 Dec10aFemale10aHumans10aMale10aMycobacterium Infections10aTuberculosis1 aKitamura S1 aShibuya Y00a[Classification and concept of mycobacterial infections]. a3036-400 v563 a

Mycobacterial infections are consisted of three categories; tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacterioses, and leprosy. Tuberculosis is a systemic infectious disease involving respiratory, genitourinary and lymphatic systems caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, and M. microti). Extrapulmonary tuberculosis remains a significant clinical problem because symptoms and signs may be difficult to recognize and to relate to tuberculosis. Miliary tuberculosis is responsible for up to 10% of predominantly extrapulmonary cases. HIV-related miliary tuberculosis is rapidly progressive and almost always fatal without treatment. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been commonly implicated as opportunistic pathogens in patients with underlying disease or immunosuppression including AIDS. M. avium complex (M. avium and M. intracellulare) and M. kansashii are most common causes of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases in humans. M. leprae is the causative agent of leprosy, an infection of the skin, mucous membranes, and peripheral nerves. This disease is rare in Japan, yet it remains a major problem in some part of the world.

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