This review examines mechanisms by which various autoimmune diseases predispose patients to mycobacterial infections, and vice versa.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a PubMed/MEDLINE search using the keywords "mycobacterium" and the names of the autoimmune conditions to identify relevant papers.<h4>Results</h4>Rheumatoid arthritis therapies, especially TNF-α inhibitors, raise tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) risk. Here, TNF is linked to autoimmune disease.