Skin coinfection by Mycobacterium avium intracellulare and varicella-zoster virus in HIV




Luis R. Flores-Bozo, Departamento de Dermatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Dr. Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México
Josune Echevarría-Keel, Departamento de Dermatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Dr. Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México
Silvia Méndez-Flores, Departamento de Dermatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Dr. Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México
Marcela Saeb-Lima, Departamento de Dermatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Dr. Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México


An increased susceptibility to infections by a wide spectrum of opportunistic pathogens is a common characteristic in advanced stages of HIV/AIDS. However, despite the presence of multiple simultaneous skin infections being expected, reports in the literature are scarce. We report a case with disseminated skin lesions as the initial presentation of HIV/AIDS and whose histological study was compatible with skin infection by varicella-zoster virus and disseminated Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection with skin involvement. No previous reports of this association were found.



Keywords: Mycobacterium avium intracellulare. Varicella-zoster virus. Coinfection.