MTB, NTM and Fungal Infections Flashcards
How long does it take to culture mTB to visible levels?
3 to 8 weeks on solid media
The term “acid fast bacillus” is practically synonymous for what bacteria?
mTB
What are 3 ways of staining for mTB?
Ziehl-Neelson
Kinyoun
fluorochrome (auramine-rhodamine)
Where is initial primary TB infection localized?
mid lung
What is responsible for the spread of mTB throughout the body?
ingestion by alveolar macrophages, where they carry bacterial to the lymph nodes and through blood
How many weeks after infection is tuberculin positivity seeN/
3 to 8 weeks after
If you have tuberculin positivity, what does that mean from an immune perspective?
cellular immunity and tissue hypersensitivity
Define the Ghon Complex
A marker of TB infection, where antigen concentration in the lung and draining lymp nodes are seen as visible calcification on the CXR
What are epithelioid cells?
they make up granulomas, and are actually stimulated macrophages
What are Langhans giant cells?
fused macrophages surrounding TB antigens - multiple nuclei
A very successful host tissue response
What type of necrosis is typically seen in mTB?
caseating
Define bronchogenic spread in mTB
when caseous necorsis liquefies and discharges, spreading infection throughout the lung
In the first year, what percentage of infected individuals develop active TB?
3 to 4 %
after the first year, what percentage of individuals develop active TB?
5 to 15%
What are the 2 most important determinants of transmission in TB?
close contact
level of infectiousness of the source
What determines source infectivity in TB?
number of TB bacilli
frequency and magnitude of cough
What are typical CXR findings in reactivated TB?
apical infiltrates with cavitation
What is one of the strengths of interferon gamma release assays for mtB diagnosis, compared to the TST?
ESAT-6 and CFP-10 antigens are very specific to mTB, don’t cross react with BCG vaccine or environmental mycobacteria
What is the main drawback of IGRA testing for mTB?
cost
What groups are most at risk for primary active mTB?
young children, elderly and immunosuppressed
Where does primary active TB infection tend to show?
lower or middle lob with hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Diffuse reticulonodular infiltrates on CXR for someone with mTB are concerning for what?
miliary TB that has spread to extrapulmonary areas
what are 3 kinds of media that can be used to grow mTB?
solid egg based (lowenstein jensen)
solid agar
liquid broth * fastest*
What is the incubation time to detection for growing mTB in liquid broth?
1 to 3 weeks (compared to 3 to 8 weeks)
What is the most sensitive and specific way to detect mTB?
PCR
For latent TB, what is the treatment regimen?
isoniazid x 9 mos
rifampin x 4 months
isoniazid + rifapentine weekly x 3 mos
What is the key drug for treating active mTB?
rifampin - it shortened therapy from 18 mos to 6 mos
What is the standard regimen for susceptible active TB? (remember the catchy little mneumonic)
2 for 4 (2 months of 4 drugs IREZ) or 4 for 2 (4 months of 2 drugs IR)
What is primary v. acquired MDR TB?
primary: patient initially infected with MDR
acquired: poor adherence selects for resistant TB in previously susceptible individual
How is MDR TB defined?
resistant to at least INH and rifampin
how is XDR TB defined?
Resistant to INH and rifampin (MDR) + 3 or more of the 6 second line drugs
What does the BCG vaccine protect against in TB?
fatal TB in children (ie. meningitis)
Does BCG prevent infection with TB?
nope - just the really bad complications, in children, for a limited time that is not extendable by booster shots
How long does the BCG vaccine last?
10 to 20 years
A 24 year-old medical student tests positive on her tuberculin skin test (22 mm of induration). She feels well and denies fever, sweats, cough or weight loss. She reports her tuberculin skin test was negative on entry to medical school 2 years ago. She was born and raised in Vietnam and received the BCG vaccine as a child. Would you recommend any additional evaluation? What is her risk of developing active tuberculosis? Would you recommend treatment?
Yes - BCG is not enough reason to ignore a positive TST.
A confirmatory IGRA would be the next, more specific test that can rule out m Bovis or BCG
If the IGRA is positive, then a CXR and latent TB therapy should be done
A 34 year-old man presents with low-grade fever, sweats, cough and hemoptysis for the past several weeks. He reports a 12-pound weight loss. Empiric treatment with azithromycin provided no benefit. He moved to Chicago from the Philippines 3 years ago and works as an aide at a preschool. A chest x-ray shows bilateral upper lobe cavitary infiltrates. What diagnostic testing do you recommend? Would you start empiric therapy and if so, what? Can he go home and continue his work-up as an outpatient? When can he return to work?
You should send for a sputum AFB smear, mycobacterial culture, and PCR assay for mTB and rifampin susceptibility.
If PCR is not available and your suspicion is high, you can begin empiric therapy for active mTB infection.
You need to hospitalize patients who are very sick or have no stable housing.
If someone is proven to have TB and starts therapy, how long should they wait to resume working etc?
clinical improvement of symptoms plus 3 smear negative sputum samples
What are two common respiratory presentations of NTM pneumonias?
chronic granulomatous pneumonia or bronchiectasis
What are the 3 class of NTM according to the runyon systeM?
rapidly growing
intermediately growing
slowly growing
What is the timeline for rapidly growing NTM?
< 7 days on the plate
What are 3 pathogenic species of rapidly growing NTM?
fortuitum, abscessus, chelonae
What is the timeline for intermediate growing mycobacteria?
7 to 10 days
Which of the intermediate growing mycobacteria grow at lower temperatures?
marinum
Which intermediate growing mycobacteria grow at higher temperatures?
gordonae
which class of mycobacteria (NTM) may need nutritional supplementation to grow?
slowly growing
What are the main pathogenic organisms in slowly growing NTM?
MAC and kansasii
What temperatures do slowly growing mycobacteria grow at?
higher temps (35 to 37)