Tuberculosis: Lethal, Infectious Disease
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB (short for tubercle bacillus) is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been present in the human population for thousands of years; fragments of the spinal column from Egyptian mummies from 2400 BCE show definite pathological signs of tubercular decay. Called "consumption," tuberculosis was recognized as the leading cause of mortality by 1650. Using a new staining technique, Robert Koch identified the bacterium responsible for causing consumption in 1882. While scientists finally had a target for fighting the disease, they did not have the means to treat patients; the spread of …show more content…
False negatives may occur in persons with a severely compromised immune system, particularly AIDS. Following a positive test, more conclusive results are obtained through a chest x-ray, direct serum inspection, and growth in culture. Serum examination may not show the presence of bacteria, so colony growth is used as a definitive test. The problem with culturing the organism is its slow growth, and colonies may not be read as positive for 3-8 weeks. Drugs available to treat tuberculosis include isoniazid (INH), rifampin, streptomycin, and others. The course of treatment usually involves a combination of drugs, as the bacterium is increasingly antibiotic resistant. Treatment is prescribed for at least 6 months due to the slow growth and death rates of the bacterium. Following 2-3 weeks of therapy, a person is usually unable to transmit tuberculosis to others. Antibiotic resistance has become more prevalent as patients do not complete the entire course of treatment. A person is …show more content…
Improving the standards of living, basic sanitary measures, and diagnostic techniques has proven to control the spread of tuberculosis. The key to reducing the spread of tuberculosis is early detection and proper treatment of infected individuals so that they will transmit it further. Simple measures such as restricting contact during the initial treatment stages can prevent transmission. Health care workers and emergency services personnel are provided with fitted HEPA filter masks if they are to come in contact with a patient suspected of having tuberculosis. In developing countries, controlling the spread of the disease is more difficult. Proper education on tuberculosis and how to prevent its spread are not as common, and once people are infected, they may not be able to afford the high cost of combined drug treatment. The Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine made from a weakened mycobacterium that infects cattle. BCG does not necessarily prevent a tuberculosis infection, but reduces the severity of the pulmonary disease. The vaccine is used only in countries where tuberculosis is endemic, and is not
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB (short for tubercle bacillus) is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been present in the human population for thousands of years; fragments of the spinal column from Egyptian mummies from 2400 BCE show definite pathological signs of tubercular decay. Called "consumption," tuberculosis was recognized as the leading cause of mortality by 1650. Using a new staining technique, Robert Koch identified the bacterium responsible for causing consumption in 1882. While scientists finally had a target for fighting the disease, they did not have the means to treat patients; the spread of …show more content…
False negatives may occur in persons with a severely compromised immune system, particularly AIDS. Following a positive test, more conclusive results are obtained through a chest x-ray, direct serum inspection, and growth in culture. Serum examination may not show the presence of bacteria, so colony growth is used as a definitive test. The problem with culturing the organism is its slow growth, and colonies may not be read as positive for 3-8 weeks. Drugs available to treat tuberculosis include isoniazid (INH), rifampin, streptomycin, and others. The course of treatment usually involves a combination of drugs, as the bacterium is increasingly antibiotic resistant. Treatment is prescribed for at least 6 months due to the slow growth and death rates of the bacterium. Following 2-3 weeks of therapy, a person is usually unable to transmit tuberculosis to others. Antibiotic resistance has become more prevalent as patients do not complete the entire course of treatment. A person is …show more content…
Improving the standards of living, basic sanitary measures, and diagnostic techniques has proven to control the spread of tuberculosis. The key to reducing the spread of tuberculosis is early detection and proper treatment of infected individuals so that they will transmit it further. Simple measures such as restricting contact during the initial treatment stages can prevent transmission. Health care workers and emergency services personnel are provided with fitted HEPA filter masks if they are to come in contact with a patient suspected of having tuberculosis. In developing countries, controlling the spread of the disease is more difficult. Proper education on tuberculosis and how to prevent its spread are not as common, and once people are infected, they may not be able to afford the high cost of combined drug treatment. The Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine made from a weakened mycobacterium that infects cattle. BCG does not necessarily prevent a tuberculosis infection, but reduces the severity of the pulmonary disease. The vaccine is used only in countries where tuberculosis is endemic, and is not