5/1 Intro to TB & Mycobacteria Flashcards
What are the reporting requirements for TB?
State by state, but usually mandated reporting of active TB; often mandated reporting of suspected TB.
Most of TB in the US is from people belonging to what category?
What % of the global population is infected with TB?
what % of the US population is infected with TB?
TB in US: generally in those who were foreign-born.
global population: 33%
US population: 1%
Terminology: how do we refer to groups of clinically relevant mycobacteria?
Mycobacteria divided into “complexes”
Ie, within the M tuberculosis complex are: M tuberculosis, M africanum, M bovis (x2??!), and M cannetti
There is also an M avium complex. (and many others)
Usefully diagnostically
How is TB transmitted?
Bacteria are aerosolized in 1micron “droplet nuclei”. Each contains a small amount of bacilli.
They can linger in the air for up to 8 h after a TB person has left the room.
Very efficient!!
Once TB finds its way into someone’s alveoli, what are the 4 possible outcomes?
- Eliminated by immune system
- Causes immediate disease (Primary TB)
- Survives dormant as Latent TB Infection (LTBI) (possible granulomas on imaging)
- Later, LTBI can convert to active TB (Reactivation TB)
What are the most common clinical manifestations of TB?
what about extrapulmonary TB?
- cough, fever, weight loss, hemoptysis
- Extrapulm s/s depend on the site that is involved.
What ist the lifetime risk of progressing from LTBI to active TB?
what if you are HIV+?
Lifetime risk = 10%
If HIV+, 10% annual risk of LTBI -> TB
When we are talking about “high risk groups” what do we want to be sure we are clear about?
are we talking about people at high risk for TB infection
or high risk for progression to active TB?
(they are different groups_
What people ar at high risk for TB infection?
- close contacts of infectious people
- people who are foreign-born
- low income, homeless
- occupational settings
- racial/ethnic minorities
- infants, children, adolescents
- IVDU
People at high risk for TB disease?
- HIV+
- with medical conditions known to increase risk for TB
- infected with M tuberculosis within past 2 yrs (higher risk for conversion LTBI to active)
- infants/kiddos < 4 yo
- IVDU
LTBI:
- what are the bacilli doing?
- TST and IGRA results?
- CXR?
- Sputum/cultures?
- symptoms?
- is person infectious?
bacilli are inactive, contained
- TST and IGRA results: positive
- CXR: usually normal (may see slight abnormality)
- Sputum/cultures: negative
- symptoms NO
- is person infectious NO
TB disease (lungs):
- what are the bacilli doing?
- TST and IGRA results?
- CXR?
- Sputum/cultures?
- symptoms?
- is person infectious?
- what are the bacilli doing: active, multiplying in body
- TST and IGRA results: usually positive
- CXR: abnormal
- Sputum/cultures: positive
- symptoms: couth, fever, wt loss
- is person infectious: Often infectious before treatment
describe the TST?
Tuberculin Skin Test
inject Partially Purified Derivative (PPD) intradermally, measure induration at 48-72 hours.
(do not measure redness! close your eyes if you have to)
describe the IGRA?
Inerferon Gamma Release Assays
Remove patient’s immune cells, conduct in vivo exposure to measure interferon release
Problems with both TST and IGRA?
Problems specific to TST?
Both: not ideal to test for disease by measuring patient’s immune reaction.
TST: cutoffs for positive interpretation depend on health status of patient.
Can cross-react with other mycobacteria (ie M bovis: BCG)
What is the booster phenomenon?
In what patients is it seen?
Booster phenomenon:
ONLY seen in patients who have LTBI!
Pt who has LTBI has a TST (negative). Several weeks later, if the same patient has another TST, it may be positive because the initial TST has ‘boosted’ the immune response.
Can be assumed that the second test was a Booster Phenomenon rather than a new exposure.
What is two-step testing?
Done in patients who will be tested periodically
-If pt has initial negative TST, can be given a second test a few weeks later. Interpretation: if second test = negative, pt was never infected. If second test = positive, assume boosted reaction.
If negative at both tests above, a positive TST later is a recent infection.
If positive at second test above, don’t ever TST that person again.
Why do we never TST someone who has previously had a positive TST result?
Pt can have necrosis, allergy, anaphylaxis, urticaria.
Overall, patients that we DON’T TST test?
Patients that we DO TST test?
Overall, patients that we DON’T TST test?
- anyne with prior positive TST
- anyone who has had live virus <6w ago
Patients that we DO TST test?
- patients about to receive immunosuppression
- Pts who have had BCG, if it has been long enough
What is the timeframe for TST testing in someone who has had the BCG vaccine?
- If had BCG in early infancy, can generally rely on TST result 10+ years later
- If had BCG as an older child (2+), harder to rely on TST result (20% will be positive after 10 yrs due to vaccine). She says to test people anyhow.