13.3 Pathology of Mycobacterial tuberculosis infections Flashcards
Explain the possibility of transmission of TB?
Depending on:
- Infectiousness of person with TB (dose)
- Environment in which exposure occurred
- Length of exposure
- Virulence (strength) of tubercle bacilli
What is the best way to stop transmission?
1) Isolate infectious people 2) Providing effective treatment to infectious people as soon as possible
What are the risk factors of TB?
1) Socioeconomic status 2) Crowding 3) Immune suppression 4) Health Care Workers 5) Overall health/immune system status 6) Alcoholism 7) Smoking 8) Diabetes 9) TB within the last 2 years (recent infection) 10) HIV Co-infection 11) Strain Virulence ? 12) Genetic Predisposition ?
What are the outcomes after exposure to TB?
What are the infection sites of TB?
-
Pulmonary containment (85%)
- Infection from lungs and spreads to other areas of the body
-
Extrapulmonary TB (e.g. liver, intestines)
- Usually non-contagious and more frequent in immunosuppressed individuals
How to diagnose active TB?
- Often based on symptomatic presentation
- Persistent cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, chest pain
-
SLOW mycobacterial culture
- Colonies dry, raised, irregular, white –> yellow
- AFB smear (sputum microscopy) - acid-fast bacillus testing
- Radiography (chest x-ray) - calcification (e.g. calcified granulomas)
- Molecular approaches (Gene expert-TB)
What is a TST?
TST - Tuberculin Skin Test
- PPD (TB antigens) planted under skin
- Monitor for cell mediated immune response
What are the problems with TST?
- Cross reactivity with BCG vaccine
- Cannot distinguish between active and latent
- LOW sensitivity and specificity
- NO good in HIV
- Reader variability
What is IGRA?
IGRA - Interferon Gamma Release Assay
- Measures IFN-gamma production in whole blood in response to stimulation with Mtb antigens
What are the positives and negatives of IFRA?
POSITIVES
- These antigens are not present in BCG strains and thus, do not cross react with most environmental strains
- Is very quick and specific
NEGATIVES
- Doesn’t distinguish between active and latent
- Not appropriate for HIV patients
What drawbacks are there in treating TB?
- Treating kids
- HIV patients are harder to treat
- NO new drugs in 50 years
- Long chemotherapeutic treatments (months) –> INCREASED risk of toxicity and resistance
Explain the vaccines in TB
- BCG (bacillus calmette Guerin)
- Is attenuated
- BCG = non protective
- SOME efficacy in severity of disease
- Efficacy varies depending on population and environment (endemicity)
Explain anti-tubercle drugs
- Combination therapy
- Long treatment periods
- Complex disease may require monitoring
Explain the emergence of resistance
Explain MDR-TB
- Is isoniazid and rifampicin resistant
- Is treated with second line drugs