Question 1

how common is it for somebody to get mycobacterium tuberculosis infection?

Accepted Answer

Common: World wide TB is an endemic illness affecting millions of people.  In the US, TB is some times seen in immigrants from poor countries.  It is also associated with immune deficiency, including AIDS.

Question 2

will mycobacterium tuberculosis infection kill me if i don't get treatment?

Accepted Answer

Possible over time: Tb is a huge cause of death... More than half a million deaths worldwide...Usually these patients are not treated or diagnosed late. Typically TB from the lung causes many complications and can spread to other organs and cause death after a long period of sickness.

Question 3

what's the best treatment to get rid of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection?

Accepted Answer

Multi-drug therapy: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. This was the among the most common causes of lung disease in the early 20th century when it was called "consumption." Nowadays it is unusual in the US but still common in the 3rd world and very serious. Treatment is a regimen of 2 to 4 drugs for many months. Resistant strains are cropping up, which complicates matters greatly.

Question 4

how can i culture mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

You don't: The lab does, on special media. If you try it yourself, and you actually have somebody with active TB to grow it from, you'll generate a mass of nasty bacteria and if you don't know exactly what you are doing, you can make everybody around you very sick.

Question 5

what is the pathophysiology of mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Complex: Mtb is acquired thru respiratory route and replicates in the lung before asymptomatically disseminates to other organs.  After about 6-8 weeks, the immune system starts to respond to the bug, walling the bacilli off in granulomas.  Other than a positive skin test, 90% of people stay well.  Of the rest, half will "reactivate" within 2 yrs and the others later sometimes due to immune suppression.

Question 6

what could happen if you have high lipid content of mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

??: The higher lipid content of the cell wall of TB bacteria doesn't affect one's blood lipids.

Question 7

what could be the reason why mycobacterium tuberculosis is resistant to many biocides?

Accepted Answer

It's complicated: Tb needs to be treated with several drugs to which it is susceptable at the same time to prevent the emergence of mutational resistance.  It also needs to be treated for at least 6 months.  In many 3rd world countries TB meds can be purchased over the counter and people take them incorrectly and not long enough.  In usa some pts are non compliant with treatment.  Both these cause resistance.

Question 8

how is it that cord factor antigen aid in the diagnosis of mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Not for prime time: Cord factor is a molecule that enhances virulence of mtb.  Usually the non-tuberculous mycobacterium dont have it so it can be used to differentiate between the infections.  Why? Mtb is considered contagious & non-tb mycobacterium are not frequently so.  Experimentally this factor has been looked at as a quick test to differentiate between the 2 types of infection.  Not yet commercially available.

Question 9

how does mycobacterium tuberculosis attack and spread?

Accepted Answer

Tb Infection: How does mycobacterium tuberculosis attack and spread?
Usually by droplet transmission through the air. Cough, fatigue and being in an area with Tb carriers or in a high risk environment where you come in contact with infected people.

Question 10

what is pcr test from menstrual blood for mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

Accepted Answer

Test for genital TB: This is a test to see if you have genital tract tuberculosis, i.e. TB of the uterus, fallopian tubes, etc.

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Doctor answers about:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

A member asked:

How common is it for somebody to get mycobacterium tuberculosis infection?

A member asked:

Will mycobacterium tuberculosis infection kill me if i don't get treatment?

A member asked:

What's the best treatment to get rid of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection?

A member asked:

How can i culture mycobacterium tuberculosis?

A member asked:

What is the pathophysiology of mycobacterium tuberculosis?

A member asked:

What could happen if you have high lipid content of mycobacterium tuberculosis?

A member asked:

What could be the reason why mycobacterium tuberculosis is resistant to many biocides?

A member asked:

How is it that cord factor antigen aid in the diagnosis of mycobacterium tuberculosis?

A member asked:

How does mycobacterium tuberculosis attack and spread?

A member asked:

What is pcr test from menstrual blood for mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

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