These germs are very common in food, water, and soil. Almost everyone has them in their bodies. When you have a strong immune system, they don't cause problems. But they can make people with weaker immune systems, like those with HIV, very sick.

Because of that, it's considered an opportunistic infection. MAC usually causes problems after HIV becomes AIDS and your CD4 cell count gets lower than 50.

With the right combination of medicines, you can treat or prevent MAC. Sometimes, you may need treatment for the rest of your life.

Symptoms
It can infect one part of your body, like your lungs, bones, or intestines. This is localized infection. It can also spread and cause disease throughout your body. Your doctor may call that disseminated infection.'>>>

https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/guide/aids-hiv-opportunistic-infections-mycobacterium-avium-complex#1

She has had a lingering lung infection for over a year. It took Kaiser many months to zero in on a broncoscapy. Then another two months to await the culture results. She will see infectious disease department next - whenever that may be.

I advised looking into holistic treatment. Detox maybe to get rid of inflammation along with Kaiser treatments. I don't think her degree of infection is as bad as my sister-in-law.

We wonder if the Jacuzzi is the culprit. They both have one. As do I, and I've got a chest infection too. Tests for me maybe as well.

Is she immune compromised? The treatment looks grueling although the maintenance less so. At least it's something they can control, so that's good.

Hope that helps to build up resistance.

My sister received very good news from the infectious disease specialist. Her MAC is-early stages and confined to a small part of her lungs. No drug cocktail necessary now. And treatment is exercise, eating right and building up her lungs. So it's the best prognosis possible after discovering the bacteria.