1). In situations where there is a high risk of short-term mortality the addition of rifabutin should be strongly considered, for instance in persons with: 1 Advanced immunosuppression (CD4+ RG7204 order T lymphocyte count <25 cells/μL); There are few supporting data for the use of other drugs such as a fluoroquinolones or parenteral amikacin [33]. These should therefore only be considered when rifabutin or other first-line drugs

cannot be used because of drug interactions, intolerance or treatment failure. Clofazimine should not be used in the treatment of MAC as it is associated with excessive toxicity and higher mortality rates [34]. In summary, the preferred regimen for disseminated MAC is clarithromycin (500 mg twice daily) or azithromycin (500 mg/day) plus ethambutol (15 mg/kg/day). If rifabutin (usually 300 mg/day) is included in the regimen a dose adjustment is necessary if concurrently administered with a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (150 mg three times a week) or efavirenz (450 mg daily) (seeTable 8.1). 8.3.4.2 Length of treatment for DMAC. • Individuals receiving HAART with a virological response and a CD4 count >100 cells/μL for at least this website 3 months in whom there has been a clinical response to DMAC therapy for at least 3 months can discontinue

Tobramycin therapy (category 3 recommendation) Most studies of the treatment of DMAC were performed in the pre-HAART era. However, there is no doubt that one of the most effective treatments for DMAC is

HAART. HAART should be initiated simultaneously or within 1–2 weeks of initiation of antimycobacterial therapy for DMAC disease, based on the experience with a range of opportunistic infections including a small number of cases with MAC [35] (category IV recommendation). If patients are already on HAART at the time of DMAC diagnosis, HAART should be continued and/or adjusted to ensure the viral load is undetectable (<50 copies/mL HIV-1 RNA) (category IV recommendation). Successful initiation of HAART is a key determinant of the duration of DMAC therapy. The incidence of DMAC has dropped dramatically with the use of HAART. Prior to the HAART era, therapy for DMAC was life-long. It has become clear that immune reconstitution and CD4 cell recovery secondary to HAART enables successful withdrawal of MAC therapy in most cases. Whilst there are no randomized clinical trial data to strongly recommend duration of MAC therapy after initiation of HAART, prospective non-randomized studies [36,37] and cohort studies [38,39] would suggest DMAC therapy can be safely discontinued in patients responding to HAART.