Tuberculosis disease

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis under microscope [1]

Etiology/Bacteriology

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Stain [2]

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinobacteria
Class: Actinobacteria
Order: Actinomycetales
Family: Mycobacteriaceae
Genus: Mycobacterium
Species: tuberculosis

Description

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Stain [3]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid fast, nonmotile, obligate anaerobe. These bacilli range in size from 2-4 µm and have an incredibly slow generation time of 15 to 20 hours. The genus of Mycobacterium is defined by the mycolic acids and waxes, which makes the bacterium resistant to many bactericidal agents. For this reason, the tuberculosis disease can be easily spread due to the difficulty in killing the bacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is very diverse and provides different geographic areas with different disease symptoms. [2]

Pathogenesis

Transmission

Much too contrary belief, the only method by which tuberculosis (TB) is spread, is through airborne particles from person to person. If a healthy human were to breathe in the bacteria that escaped the lungs of an infected individual who coughed, sneezed, or even spoke, they will contract the disease. With Mycobacterium tuberculosis being able to colonize and affect many different parts of the body, the only contagious form of the disease is pulmonary tuberculosis. [3]

Clinical Features and Symptoms

Mycobacterium tuberculosis presented via X Ray [4]

References

1 Conway, Tyrrell. “Genus conway”. “Microbe Wiki” 2013. Volume 1. p. 1-2.
2 NHS General Information on Tuberculosis
3 Ozimek, Maleana Mycobacterium tuberculosis
4 CDC General Information on Tuberculosis
5 PPD skin test Medline Plus
6 Exposure to Tuberculosis Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic

Created by Jennifer Gallup, student of Tyrrell Conway at the University of Oklahoma.