A 71-year-old man with recurrent pulmonary mycobacterial avium complex infections and lymphopenia

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections, generally viewed as opportunistic infections, often trigger an evaluation for an underlying immunodeficiency disorder. However, MAC infections can occur in patients who presumably are immunocompetent, particularly in those with an underlying structural lung disease. T-cell immunity plays a critical role in controlling MAC infection. We presented a case of lymphopenia, which complicated the clinical course of a pulmonary MAC infection in a patient who was negative for human immunodeficiency virus.