conclusions here we review the clinical applications, advantages, and limitations of the tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays and provide an overview of the most recent systematic reviews conducted for the comparison of these tests. context it has been estimated that one-third of the world’s population are suffering from latent tuberculosis infection (ltbi). in order to cont...

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important health problem throughout the world. Despite its significance in public health, mechanisms of protective immunity against Mycobacyerium Tuberculosis in humans have not yet been understood. Objective: To evaluate cell mediated immune response against purified Ag 85, PPD and Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in patients with tuberculosis and healthy tuber...

BACKGROUND Options for intervention against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are limited by the diagnostic tools available. The Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) skin test is thought to be non-specific, especially in tropical settings. We compared the PPD skin test with an ELISPOT test in The Gambia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Household contacts over six months of age of sputum smear ...

We present the case of a patient with type T non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in clinical remission after treatment with chemo and radiotherapy, who was hospitalized due to hemorrhagic and necrotic skin lesions on his right hand and a clinical suspicion of paraneoplasic vasculitis. Nonetheless, study of the patient and complementary testing led to the diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis with skin and l...

At the present time, tuberculosis affecting the skin or the small bones of the hands and feet is uncommon in Great Britain. Out of 2500 cases of tuberculosis in children documented by Miller, Seal, and Taylor (1963), 34 had a primary skin infection and 28 had a haematogenous skin infection. Of these 28, only 6 were of the verrucous type. In their entire series they saw only 2 cases of tuberculo...

BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality in Africa. The assay of T cell interferon- gamma released in response to antigens of greater specificity than purified protein derivative is a useful improvement over the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, but few studies have evaluated interferon-gamma secretion in HIV-infected individuals. METHODS...

Introduction I. Epidemiology II. Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis III. Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis IV. Clinical Manifestations of Tuberculosis A. Systemic Effects of Tuberculosis B. Pulmonary Tuberculosis C. Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis V. Diagnostic Microbiology A. Laboratory Services for Mycobacterial Diseases B. Collection of Specimens for Demonstration of Tubercle Bacilli C. Trans...

INTRODUCTION The present study aimed to establish the frequency and clinical characteristics of cutaneous tuberculosis among Mexican adult patients. METHODOLOGY Ninety-five patients with clinically compatible lesions to cutaneous tuberculosis participated in the study. All patients were HIV negative and none of them had previous anti-TB treatment. A skin biopsy was taken from every patient su...

Introduction I. Epidemiology II. Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis III. Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis IV. Clinical Manifestations of Tuberculosis A. Systemic Effects of Tuberculosis B. Pulmonary Tuberculosis C. Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis V. Diagnostic Microbiology A. Laboratory Services for Mycobacterial Diseases B. Collection of Specimens for Demonstration of Tubercle Bacilli C. Trans...