MAC infection in knee?

@lisw I have heard this can happen, usually in immunocompromised people. I believe it can be confirmed with a culture of aspirated fluid/cells from the site. Have they tested?
Sue

Thanks for your response. I am not immunocompromised so hope he is wrong. Says he will test synovial fluid when revision is done in October. Seems to me earlier would be better. I will ask infectious disease doc when I see him next week.

I've been following MAC for 5 years. I have not heard of MAC anywhere but the lung. I wonder now since I have aspergillus in the lung and just developed a bad infection (skin/cyst) on my butt. I saw my pcp yesterday, pulminologist scheduled next week and id Dr in 12 days.

MAC does rarely occur elsewhere in the body, but typically in immuno-compromised people - think active HIV and on meds, or organ transplant and on immunosuppressants.
Sue

My supervisor in work got MAC in his hand. It came from a cactus needle. He has a beautiful cactus garden and was stick by a needle. He did not realize it and, as per the drs, it was embedded for a time and resulted in MAC. He went to NJH and was there for many weeks. The MAC travelled up his arm and required multiple surgeries. He almost lost his finger. But, thank goodness, he instead had to have his tendon removed. He is still being closely monitored.

Mycrobacterium lentiflavin was first discovered in the skin in 1996, I have it in my lungs, it's is an NTM. Ugly sister by a different mister to MAC.

From what I was told, I got the impression that having MAC in the lungs is a bit better than having it anywhere else in the body where it may spread faster. So, I guess, in some weird way, we should count our lucky stars (?!). My mantra that helps me get through the rough days: "Things could always be worse."

This is info from the Cleaveland Clinic.
“NTM infections can also develop in your:
• Blood.
• Bones.
• Lymph nodes (sometimes called lymph glands).
• Skin and soft tissue (skin nodules, or infections in surgical incisions after an operation).
In many people, NTM infections develop after:
• Drinking, bathing or showering in water containing NTM.
• Inhaling the mycobacteria from the environment.
• Exposure to the mycobacteria from a medical device during surgery.”

I understood you can also get NTM infections after procedures such as liposuction.

Went on prozac as was going a little nuts on overload. The book 'Everything you wanted to know about Lentiflavin, but were afraid to ask' was a bit overwhelming. The fatigue is my big kicker, I am getting in lots of reading time! Comfortable couch! B

Well, the bad news is NTM (non-tubercular mycobacteria) is everywhere - in the air, water and soil. Further bad news - there are hundreds of known strains.
The good news is, most strains don't cause infection in humans. And more good news is, even those which do generally only infect a miniscule percent of the population. For something that is everywhere - only one person in 1000 (.1%) develops an NTM infection needing treatment in any year.
Usually, NTM infects people with already unhealthy lungs - those who have Bronchiectasis or Cystic Fibrosis, or people with severely compromised immune systems. And it is treatable. NTM infections like the one mentioned from the guy with the imbedded cactus spine are so rare as to practically be medical oddities.

I'm afraid if I worried about being exposed to NTM, I would need to live in a sterile bubble. Instead, I just use airway clearance and a healthy lifestyle with reasonable precautions to keep MAC and Pseudomonas from settling into my lungs again. It has been working for 3 1/2 years now with no drugs!
Sue