ASQH - Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious diseases caused by bacteria usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans. Tuberculosis may attack the lung but it can also attack other tissues. It spreads by droplets from a patient to a healthy person when the patient coughs, sneezes or spits. Most infections are asymptomatic and latent. 10% of latent tuberculosis progresses to active tuberculosis. Mortality is 50 % in untreated active tuberculosis. Roughly a third of the world's population has been infected with M.tuberculosis but most infections are asymptomatic.

Risk factors for developing TB include silicosis, IV drug abuse, BMI below 18.5, DM, chronic renal failure and prolonged corticosteroid therapy.
Symptoms of active pulmonary tuberculosis are chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
Active pulmonary tuberculosis is diagnosed by a finding the bacteria in a sputum sample stained with Ziehl Nelsen stain, chest X-ray , Tuberculin test. New methods of diagnosis include interferon release assays (IGRAs) that detect the release of interferon gamma in response to mycobacterial proteins and PCR for detection of mycobacterial DNA.

Prevention is by the use of vaccine BCG. Treatment is through the use of a combination of antibiotics for a time ranging from 6 to 24 months to ensure the eradication of the infection. The two most commonly used drugs are rifamfpicin and isoniazid. Multidrug resistance is a serious problem.

From the World Health Organization (WHO)
Tuberculosis
From the Centers for Disease Control
Tuberculosis
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
From Health Canada
The Risk and Prevention of Tuberculosis in Travellers
Tuberculosis Screening and the International Traveller

Tuberculosis

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