Tuberculosis Flashcards
TB
Bacterial disease caused by rod shaped mycobacterium
Mycobacteria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Slow Growing Rod shaped 02 rich environment (e.g. lungs) Lipid rich walls Waxy coat- prevents penetration of toxic compounds
TB Spread
Air- cough, sneeze
Epidemiology
1 in 3 infected
Healthy people- contain it in inactive form
Bacteria active when person’s immunity reduced- HIV, age
Classification
Difficult + slow to grow in culture
Require Lowenstein-Jensen media
M. leprae
Can’t be grown in vitro
V slow- doubling time is 2 weeks
Primary TB
Inhaled mycobacteria settle in middle regions of lung, just under pleura –> O2 rich
Excite acute inflammatory response from neutrophils
–> neutrophils phagocytose bacteria, sequester them in intracellular phagosome
Healthy vs immunocompromised response to TB
Healthy- release toxic compounds into phagosome + kill bacteria
Immunocompromised- neutrophils can’t destroy bacteria as have waxy coat that prevents penetration of toxic compounds
Immunocompromised Primary TB
Neutrophils release cytokines when fail to kill bacteria
Neutrophils die –> caseous necrosis
Bacteria survive in caseous tissue
Cytokines attract macrophages + T cells to area
Macrophages accumulate in rings around caseous tissue –> start to phagocytose bacteria
Soma bacteria killed but some survive even in macrophages
Macrophages can fuse to form giant cells –> more effective at attacking bacteria
Macrophages release more cytokines –> attract lymphocytes
Lymphocytes form layer around macrophages
Outer wall of fibroblasts form
Granuloma
Accumulation of macrophages + other cells
Wall off/contain TB and stop it spreading
Ghon Focus
Granuloma around a tuberculous necrotic centre
Calcium deposited in outer layer of focus (collagen layer) –> can be seen on X ray
Langhans cells
Giant cells formed by macrophages being fused together in granuloma
Ghon Complex
Calcified Ghon focus and any associated affected lymph node
Chest X Ray
Opacities, mainly in upper zone, with a patchy or nodular appearance
Cavitation
Calcification
Hilar shadowing
Miliary TB
Diffuse nodular shadowing
Post-primary TB
Bacteria remain alive in Ghon Complex
Later if patient immunocompromised, bacteria escape + TB symptoms recur
Open or active TB
Bacilli in sputum
Active TB signs
Fever Malaise Weight loss Night sweats Cough Haemoptysis Chest pain