A number of people in this group have not been treated for their MAC with antibiotics. My pulmonologist says she never treats MAC based on sputum cultures alone - she looks for infection evidence in the lungs plus other symptoms (coughing, fatigue, weight loss), before beginning treatment. She also considers the total physical condition of each person, because not everyone can tolerate the 3 antibiotic regimen. I also see that you have COPD, which may affect how you would be treated.
Right now, I (probably) still have the infection, but no symptoms. In consultation with my 3 docs, we stopped the antibiotics last December based on an improved lung scan, even though the cultures were positive. I have maintained all year with 7% saline nebs & airway clearance. The Infectious Disease doc consulted with NJH before stopping. He said that, in his experience, a fair number of people have MAC for years, and you can "knock down" the level of infection with drugs, but it never really goes away. The best you can do is healthy eating/living and good lung hygiene. Sometimes it flares up and you treat it again.
Sue

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