Clarithromycin improves prospects for treatment of disseminated MAC infection

Clarithromycin appears poised to become an important component of treatment regimens for patients with AIDS and disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) infections, although optimal regimens have not yet been defined.

In this difficult-to-treat condition, regimens containing clarithromycin have been well tolerated and have produced encouraging bacteriological and clinical responses.

Clarithromycin should be used in combination with other antimycobacterial drugs, since there is a significant risk of resistance developing with monotherapy.