ATYPICAL ACID-FAST MYCOBACTERIA.

THE atypical mycobacteria are a heterogeneous group of micro-organisms that are frequently associated with disease in man. Since these organisms differ in certain characteristics from Mycobacterium tuberculosis they have been called atypical. The term focuses attention upon distinct differences between this group and Myco. tuberculosis, Myco. bovis and Myco. avium, the "typical" mycobacteria producing tuberculosis in man and animals. They have also been called "Anonymous" and "unclassified" mycobacteria, but the latter terms confuse rather than clarify the picture from a clinical point of view. Geographic Distribution The existence of atypical mycobacteria had been known for years,1 but their . . .