Tuberculosis Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards based on a lecture about Tuberculosis, covering its history, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

A disease also known as consumption or the white plague, caused by mycobacteria.

What is consumption with respect to TB?

Weight loss associated with TB.

What is the white plague with respect to TB?

White caseation in the lungs or kidneys due to granulomas.

What were sanatoria?

Health clinic retreats focused on rest, good food, and sunlight exposure for TB patients.

What percentage of people exposed to TB will develop some level of disease?

Approximately 10% of people exposed to TB.

What does a Mantoux reaction indicate?

Indicates exposure to TB.

Approximately how many people died from TB in 2021?

1.6 million people.

Which infectious disease is currently the leading cause of death, surpassing TB?

Malaria.

Who is considered the father of microbiology and cultured Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Robert Koch.

How did Koch prove that a specific organism caused a particular disease?

Infecting animals with the cultured organism and observing the same disease.

What is the name of the organism that causes tuberculosis?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

What are the different forms of TB?

Pulmonary TB, Kidney TB, Meningeal TB, Bone/Joint TB, Miliary TB, Skin TB, Lymph Node TB.

Why is the kidney the second most common site for TB infection?

Because of close proximity of blood to the alveoli. Rupturing of the alveoli allows entry of organisms into the bloodstream, leading to kidney infection.

What is miliary TB?

Spread of TB from the lungs via the bloodstream, affecting multiple organs.

Which mycobacterium species was historically transmitted through unpasteurized milk?

Mycobacterium bovis.

What is scrofula?

Lymph nodes break down due to TB organisms.

Which species are part of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex to know?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, and BCG strain.

Why is it important to vaccinate newborns in families with TB?

To prevent neonatal tuberculosis.

What is primary tuberculosis?

The initial focus of infection; is quite different from secondary TB.

What urinary symptom is associated with urinary tract tuberculosis?

Sterile pyuria.

What are the key CSF characteristics of CNS tuberculosis?

Raised protein, lymphocytes, and lower glucose in the CSF.

What happens when a macrophage encounters a TB organism?

Macrophage eats the TB organism, but cannot break it down, allowing the TB organism to grow.

What is a tubercle?

Lymphocytes surround macrophages effectively making a barrier.

What happens to TB bacteria when conditions aren't right for growth?

Bacteria enter dormancy and stop growing, but remain viable, represents a survival strategy.

What is open tuberculosis?

The tubercle breaks down, releasing infectious organisms into the bronchi.

What is hemoptysis?

Coughing up blood.

What inflammatory cytokine is associated with many TB symptoms?

Tumor necrosis factor.

What type of immunity is crucial for controlling TB infection?

Cell-mediated immunity.

What lesions are most easily seen on chest x-rays?

Calcified lesions.

What advancements exist for TB diagnosis?

Molecular diagnosis and kits for detecting drug resistance.

How does the QuantiFERON test diagnose TB?

Stimulating patient's T cells to release interferon gamma, detected via ELISA.

Where was the QuantiFERON test invented?

Australia.

How is the tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) performed?

Purified protein from MTB is injected under the skin, and the hardened area is measured after 48 hours.

What is induration?

Area of hardness that is measured in millimeters.

What steps are taken if an individual has a large Mantoux or an increased size Mantoux?

Follow-up chest x-ray; sputum testing if possible; QuantiFERON test for definitive diagnosis.

What does Vidrill stand for?

Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory.

What factors contribute to the long treatment time required for TB?

Slow growth and thick, fatty cell wall.

What is the treatment regimen for TB?

Intensive phase (four drugs) followed by a continuation phase (two drugs).

What can happen if tuberculosis patients stop taking treatment too early?

Develop multi drug resistant TB.

What does DOTS stand for?

Directly Observed Treatment Strategy.

What did the New York DOTS program entail?

Weekly clinics, tablets, financial incentives, and hot meals.

What are the key components of TB treatment and prevention?

Quarantine, monitored treatment, BCG vaccination, and pasteurization of milk.

In what region is the BCG vaccine effective?

Effective in Africa.

In what country did the diminishing of Mycobacterium bovis influence the responses to the BCG vaccine?

Australia.

What are efforts in working life to raising awareness of tuberculosis?

Raising awareness, good rabbit diagnosis, getting people on treatment.