<Tr> <Th> MeSH </Th> <Td> D015270 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Mycobacterium avium - intracellulare infection (MAI) is an atypical mycobacterial infection, i.e. one with nontuberculous mycobacteria or NTM, caused by Mycobacterium avium complex ("MAC"), which is made of three mycobacteria species, M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. chimaera . This infection causes respiratory illness in birds, pigs, and humans, especially in immunocompromised people . In the later stages of AIDS it can be very severe . It usually first presents as a persistent cough . It is typically treated with a series of three antibiotics for a period of at least six months . </P> <P> M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. chimaera are each saprotrophic organisms present in soil and water; entry into hosts is usually via the gastrointestinal tract, but also can be via the lungs . </P>

Which microorganisms cause mycobacterium avium complex (mac) infection