Some memoranda on the diagnostic criteria of lung disease caused by Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex.

: The simultaneous appearance of new cavitary lesions in the lungs and two or more isolations of Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex (MAC) by daily or monthly sputum examination in the initial few days or the initial 6 months shows the presence of lung disease caused by MAC. Three isolations of MAC by three to six daily or monthly sputum examination confirms the occurrence of lung disease caused by MAC. These criteria and their basis were published by the present author in 1974 and 1978. The criteria are almost the same as those published by the American Thoracic Society in 1997.