Transcript Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis
By: Megan and KC
Tuberculosis
• There are 2 phases: latent TB and active TB.
• Latent TB is when it first enters the body and
isn’t harmful, you don’t even know you have it.
• It turns active (can be yrs.) when your immune
system can’t stop the bacteria from growing.
• It is only contagious if you have active TB.
– It is spread through the air once it reaches your lungs.
Causative Agent
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Slender rod
• Obligate aerobe
– What does this mean?
• Slow growing (20 hrs.)
• Grow in clumps
• The growth of this bacteria appears mold-like so
what could the prefix myco- suggest?
Symptoms
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Bad cough (3wks. Or longer)
Pain in chest
Coughing up blood
Weakness or fatigue
Weight loss no appetite
Chills
Fever/night sweats
Mantoux Test
• Mantoux Test: injecting a
small amount of fluid
(tuberculin) into the skin in
the lower part of the arm.
• After 48-72 hrs, the patient
must return so a physician can
look for a reaction to the test.
Diagnosis
• The Mantoux Test is
negative if there is
no bump or a very small
bump
on the skin where the fluid
was injected.
• The test is positive if there
is a larger bump on the
skin. You will then be
given a chest x-ray.
• Further testing is needed
after a positive skin test
Treatment
• Minimum of 6 mos. of antibiotic treatment
– Why do you think treatment takes this long?
• 1st antibiotic introduced in 1944- streptomycin
– Still in use but not primary treatment
• Most powerful TB drugs: isoniazid and rifampin
• Vaccines:
– BCG ( Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin)- Only
recommended for children at high risk who have a
negative skin test
Sources
• http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/tb/facts
heets/tst.html#1
• http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/treatment/default.htm
• Text book