Tuberculosis overview

Jump to navigation Jump to search
https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR51KVF4OX0%7C350}}

Tuberculosis Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Tuberculosis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Children

HIV Coinfection

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

Chest X Ray

CT

MRI

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Special Conditions
Drug-resistant

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Tuberculosis overview On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Tuberculosis overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Tuberculosis overview

CDC on Tuberculosis overview

Tuberculosis overview in the news

Blogs on Tuberculosis overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Tuberculosis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Tuberculosis overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2]; João André Alves Silva, M.D. [3]; Ammu Susheela, M.D. [4]

Overview

Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB or Tuberculosis) is a common infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis most commonly involves the lungs as the organism thrives in high oxygen environments, but it can also cause disease in the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, bones, joints and even the skin. Over one-third of the world's population has been exposed to M. tuberculosis, and new infections occur at a rate of one per second. Not all individuals exposed to the bacterium develop clinically overt tuberculosis infection; in fact, asymptomatic, latent TB infection discovered by screening is more common. Approximately, one in ten latent infections progresses to active (symptomatic) TB disease, which, if left untreated, carries mortality rates of up to 50%. Symptoms include shortness of breath, hemoptysis, fever, chills, night sweats, and weight loss. Several treatment regimens are available for the latent and active forms of TB. Classically, a prolonged course of 6-9 months of a single agent (rifampin or isoniazid) is administered to patients with latent TB, while a more aggressive course that consists of 4 major anti-tuberculous agents (rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide) is reserved for patients with active disease.

Historical Perspective

Classification

TB Classification System

  • As per CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention), the clinical classification system for TB used in the United States is based on the pathogenesis of the disease.
  • This classification system provides clinicians the opportunity to keep an eye on the development of TB in their patients.
  • Health care providers should follow with state and local laws and regulations requiring the reporting of TB disease.
  • All persons with Class 3 or Class 5 TB should be reported directly to the local or state health department.
  • A patient should not have a Class 5 classification for more than 3 months.
Class Type Description
0 *No TB exposure
*Not infected
*No history of TB exposure and no evidence of M. tuberculosis infection or disease
*Negative reaction to TST or IGRA
1 *TB exposure
*No evidence of infection
*History of exposure to M. tuberculosis
*Negative reaction to TST (Tuberculin skin tests) or IGRA (an interferon gamma release assay blood test) (given at least 8 to 10 weeks after exposure)
2 *TB infection
*No TB disease
*Positive reaction to TST or IGRA
*Negative bacteriological studies (smear and cultures)
*No bacteriological or radiographic evidence of active TB disease
3 *TB clinically active *Positive culture for M. tuberculosis OR
*Positive reaction to TST or IGRA, plus clinical, bacteriological, or radiographic evidence of current active TB
4 *Previous TB disease (not clinically active) *May have past medical history of TB disease
*Abnormal but stable radiographic findings
*Positive reaction to the TST or IGRA
*Negative bacteriologic studies (smear and cultures)
*No clinical or radiographic evidence of current active TB disease
5 *TB suspected *Signs and symptoms of active TB disease, but medical evaluation not complete

Pathophysiology

Causes

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural history, complications and prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory findings

Electrocardiogram

Chest X-Ray

CT

MRI

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

Other Imaging findings

The abreugraphy is a smaller variant of the chest X-ray that allows the identification of lung abnormalities that may suggest the diagnosis of TB. With the decrease of incidence of TB, the abreugraphy is no longer recommended in most countries for low-risk populations. However, depending on the screening resources of each country, it may be used for the screening of high-risk groups, such as HIV-positive patients and alcoholics.

Other Diagnostic Studies

Because of difficulties with the Tuberculin skin test, many laboratory methods of diagnosis are emerging.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

If there is a high probability of infection, presumptively treat the patient even if the stain is negative, while waiting for the culture results. The patient should be brought back in a few weeks. Patients usually feel better a few weeks post-treatment. Patients must be monitored for adverse effects and treatment failure. In the U.S., all TB is tested for drug resistance.

Special conditions

Medical therapy for tuberculosis in special conditions include HIV co-infection and extra pulmonary manifestations. Different approaches are taken for patients taking ART and those who do not take ART. Although WHO recommends the same drug regimen for pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations, various stages of skeletal tuberculosis are managed differently. For patients with renal or liver diseases, the first line of drugs are substituted with second-line drugs to prevent complications.

Drug-resistant

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is caused by M. tuberculosis organisms that are resistant to at least one first-line anti-TB drug. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is resistant to more than one anti-TB drug and at least isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF). Treatment should be started with an empirical treatment of at least 4 drugs based on expert advice as soon as drug-resistant TB disease is suspected.

Children

Tuberculosis in children aged 15 years or younger is a public health problem of special significance because it is a marker for recent transmission of TB. Infants and young children are more likely to develop life-threatening forms of tuberculosis, such as miliary TB or TB meningitis. Screening in children is very important, as the clinical manifestations are usually poor or non-specific. History of close contact with tuberculosis patients has an important role in the diagnosis of TB in children. The treatment is similar to adults, with adjusted dosing according to the child's weight.

Surgery

Surgery may be necessary, especially to drain abscesses , empyema, venticular shunt in tubercular meningitis, surgical resection of tissues affected in abdominal tuberculosis, stabilize the spine in case of Pott's disease, lobectomy, pneumonectomy, pericardiocentesis or surgical repair of pericardium.

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention in tuberculosis is targeted to avoid disease transmission and infection of healthy individuals. The BCG vaccine is used in children susceptible to TB infections, such as children living in endemic areas or having close contact with a confirmed case of TB. Several preventive measures are used to avoid the transmission of the mycobacteria, such as respiratory isolation, use of respiratory masks among health-care professionals, and advising respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention for tuberculosis includes methods for screening and early diagnosis, such as tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRAs; and to guarantee the correct treatment regimen at the right time to prevent disease progression.

Cost effectiveness of therapy

Treatment of tuberculosis must be analyzed for relative cost effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient models of care as it will benefit regions where tuberculosis is highly prevalent. Unless there is severe complications it is highly recommended to treat the TB patient in ambulatory care rather than inpatient services.

Future or investigational therapy

Since new drug-resistant tuberculosis has been emerging, the role of future therapies is vital in curbing outbreaks. The new drugs should be more effective than the current regimen and a few drugs in clinical trials have been showing good results.

References

Template:WH

Template:WS