The Significance of Mycobacterium abscessus Subspecies abscessus Isolation During Mycobacterium avium Complex Lung Disease Therapy.

The article discusses a study which aims to discover the clinical significance of isolating Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus (MAA) during the lung disease therapy for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Topics discussed include the collection of sputum for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) analysis, and the composition and parameters of the two groups of patients with MAA isolates. A case study of a 78-year-old woman positive for MAC is also presented.