Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882. It has been observed that 30% of the world population harbours Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Spread of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, malignancies, globalization and malnutrition are some of the major contributing factors for increase in the global burden of tuberculosis (pulmonar...

Medicines for tuberculosis. The drugs for the lengthy treatment of MDR-TB can cost more than 100 times that of the drugs to treat common tuberculosis strains. Even in places where tuberculosis control has seen the greatest progress, such as many of the countries in WHO’s Western Pacific Region, the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis faces huge challenges. “In most of the high-burden coun...

A promising test to distinguish between active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis As pointed out by the authors of the case report, the distinction between active tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis is impossible with the blood tests in conventional use. 1 Nevertheless what seems to show great promise is the use of host RNA expression profiles to distinguish between active and latent tu...

INTRODUCTION — The lungs are the major site for Mycobacterium tuberculosis primary infection and disease. Clinical manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) include primary TB, reactivation TB, laryngeal TB, endobronchial TB, lower lung field TB infection, and tuberculoma. Pulmonary complications of TB can include hemoptysis, pneumothorax, bronchiectasis, extensive pulmonary destruction, malignancy, ...

It is believed that tuberculosis has been killing human beings for over 4000 years. Several reports exist of ancient Egyptian mummies having signs of tubercular decay in their bodies. After the discovery of powerful anti-TB drugs such as streptomycin, isoniazid and rifampin during 1940-70s, it was thought that TB would be gone from the face of the earth, but tuberculosis still remains one of th...

AIMS Use of the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB PCR) as a basis for making clinical decisions on the initiation of antituberculosis treatment was studied. METHODS A retrospective study involving a cohort of 155 patients being investigated for tuberculosis in an infectious disease consultation service was undertaken. TB PCR was performed on pulmona...