Intestinal Mycobacterium avium Complex Infection in a Kidney Transplant Patient.

ABSTRACT

Opportunistic infections are the result of infection by bacteria, viral, and fungal sources potentially leading to severe disease and death. These infections are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality among individuals with profound immunosuppression, namely human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and organ transplant recipients on medications used to prevent organ rejection. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is one of the most prevalent pathogens worldwide as it is found ubiquitously in water, food, and soil and is commonly a source of disseminated disease among the immunocompromised. However, cases of kidney transplantation remain exceedingly rare with an estimated incidence of 0.16% and 0.55%. We present the case of a 68-year-old female with a history of a kidney transplant, currently on immunosuppressant therapy, who was found to have localized MAC infection after undergoing endoscopic evaluation for symptoms of generalized weakness and unintentional weight loss secondary to anemia.