lunes, 27 de octubre de 2008
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium. tuberculosis is an aerobe Gram-positive mycobacterium. Tuberculosis is the name of this serious illness caused by this Mycobacteria that is spread by airborne droplets that must penetrate deep into the respiratory tree.
Preventive measures
*Close contacts of people with newly diagnosed infectious TB
*People with positive tuberculin skin tests and abnormal chest x-rays compatible with inactive TB (lesions caused by prior disease)
*HIV-positive people or those suspected to be HIV-infected who now have, or had at any time in the past, positive skin test reactions, but who do not have active infection
*Injection drug users who have positive skin test reactions.
*ventilation
*air filtration
*Isolation methods in hospitals, medical and dental offices, nursing homes, and prisons.
*If someone is believed to have been in contact with another person who has TB, preventive antibiotic treatment may have to be given.
*Infected persons need to be identified as soon as possible so that they can be isolated from others and treated.
*People with positive tuberculin skin tests and abnormal chest x-rays compatible with inactive TB (lesions caused by prior disease)
*HIV-positive people or those suspected to be HIV-infected who now have, or had at any time in the past, positive skin test reactions, but who do not have active infection
*Injection drug users who have positive skin test reactions.
*ventilation
*air filtration
*Isolation methods in hospitals, medical and dental offices, nursing homes, and prisons.
*If someone is believed to have been in contact with another person who has TB, preventive antibiotic treatment may have to be given.
*Infected persons need to be identified as soon as possible so that they can be isolated from others and treated.
Typical signs of tuberculosis
No symptoms - in early phases; also if they only have latent TB infection
Early infection symptoms:
*Fever
*Chills
*Sweating
*Night sweats
*Flu-like symptoms
*Gastrointestinal symptoms
*Weight loss
*No appetite
*Weakness
*Fatigue
Symptoms of chronic lung infection (pulmonary tuberculosis):
*Persistent cough
*Chest pain
*Coughing up bloody sputum
*Shortness of breath
*Breathing difficulty
*Recurring bouts of fever
*Weight loss
*Progressive shortness of breath
*Urine discoloration
*Cloudy urine
*Reddish urine
Early infection symptoms:
*Fever
*Chills
*Sweating
*Night sweats
*Flu-like symptoms
*Gastrointestinal symptoms
*Weight loss
*No appetite
*Weakness
*Fatigue
Symptoms of chronic lung infection (pulmonary tuberculosis):
*Persistent cough
*Chest pain
*Coughing up bloody sputum
*Shortness of breath
*Breathing difficulty
*Recurring bouts of fever
*Weight loss
*Progressive shortness of breath
*Urine discoloration
*Cloudy urine
*Reddish urine
Transmission:
When people suffers from this disease which is an active pulmonary TB cought, they spread it through the air. A single droplet can transmit the disease, since the infectious dose of it is very low and when other people inhale it only one single bacterium can cause a new infection.
People with prolonged, frequent, or intense contact with the sick people have a high risk of becoming infected.
Transmission can only occur from people with active — not latent — TB [1]. TB can also be transmitted by eating meat infected with TB. Mycobacterium bovis causes TB in cattle. (See details below.)
People with prolonged, frequent, or intense contact with the sick people have a high risk of becoming infected.
Transmission can only occur from people with active — not latent — TB [1]. TB can also be transmitted by eating meat infected with TB. Mycobacterium bovis causes TB in cattle. (See details below.)
How is tuberculosis treated?
A person with a positive skin test, a normal chest x-ray, and no symptoms most likely has only a few TB (tuberculosis) germs in an inactive state and is not contagious. However, the treatment to these cases is combated with antibiotics to prevent the TB from turning into an active infection. The antibiotic used for this purpose is called isoniazid (INH). If the person takes it for six to 12 months, it will prevent the TB from becoming active in the future. In contrast, with a person positive skin test that does not have to take INH, there is a 5%-10% lifelong risk that the TB will become active.
Taking isoniazid can be inadvisable (contraindicated) during pregnancy or for those suffering from alcoholism or liver disease. Also, isoniazid can have side effects. The side effects occur infrequently, but the patient can feel tired or irritable. Liver damage from isoniazid is a rare occurrence and typically reverses once the drug is stopped. It is important therefore, for the doctor to monitor a patient's liver by periodically ordering blood tests called "liver function tests" during the course of INH therapy. Another side effect of INH is a decreased sensation in the extremities referred to as a peripheral neuropathy. This can be avoided by taking vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and this is often prescribed along with INH.
Active TB is treated with a combination of medications along with isoniazid. Rifampin (Rifadin), ethambutol (Myambutol), and pyrazinamide are the drugs commonly used to treat active TB in conjunction with isoniazid (INH). Four drugs are often taken for the first two months of therapy to help kill any potentially resistance of bacteria. Then the number is usually reduced to two drugs for the rest of the treatment based on drug sensitivity testing that is usually available by this time in the course. Streptomycin, a drug that is given by injection, is used particularly when the disease is extensive and/or the patients do not take their oral medications constantly.
Treatment usually can last for many months and sometimes for years. Successful treatment of TB is dependent largely on the obedience of the patient. In fact, the failure of a patient to take the medications is the most important cause of failure to cure the TB infection. In some locations, the health department demands direct monitoring of patient obedience with therapy.
Surgery on the lungs may be could help cure TB when medication has failed, but in this days, surgery for TB is unusual. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics will usually cure the TB. Without treatment, tuberculosis can be a lethal infection. Therefore, early diagnosis is important. Those individuals who have been exposed to a person with TB, or suspect that they have been, should be examined by a doctor for signs of TB and make TB skin tests.
Taking isoniazid can be inadvisable (contraindicated) during pregnancy or for those suffering from alcoholism or liver disease. Also, isoniazid can have side effects. The side effects occur infrequently, but the patient can feel tired or irritable. Liver damage from isoniazid is a rare occurrence and typically reverses once the drug is stopped. It is important therefore, for the doctor to monitor a patient's liver by periodically ordering blood tests called "liver function tests" during the course of INH therapy. Another side effect of INH is a decreased sensation in the extremities referred to as a peripheral neuropathy. This can be avoided by taking vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and this is often prescribed along with INH.
Active TB is treated with a combination of medications along with isoniazid. Rifampin (Rifadin), ethambutol (Myambutol), and pyrazinamide are the drugs commonly used to treat active TB in conjunction with isoniazid (INH). Four drugs are often taken for the first two months of therapy to help kill any potentially resistance of bacteria. Then the number is usually reduced to two drugs for the rest of the treatment based on drug sensitivity testing that is usually available by this time in the course. Streptomycin, a drug that is given by injection, is used particularly when the disease is extensive and/or the patients do not take their oral medications constantly.
Treatment usually can last for many months and sometimes for years. Successful treatment of TB is dependent largely on the obedience of the patient. In fact, the failure of a patient to take the medications is the most important cause of failure to cure the TB infection. In some locations, the health department demands direct monitoring of patient obedience with therapy.
Surgery on the lungs may be could help cure TB when medication has failed, but in this days, surgery for TB is unusual. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics will usually cure the TB. Without treatment, tuberculosis can be a lethal infection. Therefore, early diagnosis is important. Those individuals who have been exposed to a person with TB, or suspect that they have been, should be examined by a doctor for signs of TB and make TB skin tests.
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by an infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is more common in areas of the world where poverty, malnutrition, poor health and social disorder are present.
The bacteria that cause the disease are inhaled (in form of particles that only can be seen by microscope) and come from a person with tuberculosis. When you cough, speak or sneeze, the small particles are expelled into the air. They dry out quickly, but the bacteria itself can remain flying for hours in the environment. However, the tuberculosis bacteria are killed when you are exposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight (in a longer period of time).
The bacteria that cause the disease are inhaled (in form of particles that only can be seen by microscope) and come from a person with tuberculosis. When you cough, speak or sneeze, the small particles are expelled into the air. They dry out quickly, but the bacteria itself can remain flying for hours in the environment. However, the tuberculosis bacteria are killed when you are exposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight (in a longer period of time).
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