18th February 2025

An elderly lady is seen in a respiratory clinic with weight loss and fatigue.

An elderly lady is seen in a respiratory clinic with weight loss and fatigue. On examination she is noted to have a very weak cough, which seems suppressed. 

Investigations are as follows:

Bronchoalveolar lavage culture: Positive for Mycobacterium avium complex

What is the underlying cause for this?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.