Picture 41

This picture shows epithelial cells and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in ZN stain.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Morphology: Aerobic acid-fast bacilli, stained poorly in Gram stain, grows slowly

Route of transmission: Respiratory aerosol

Investigations: Acid-fast bacilli smeaar in sputum, urine, body fluids, or tissues, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in difficult cases

Diseases:

Primary tuberculosis

Reactivation tuberculosis, can present as pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Treatment:

Rifampin and isoniazid and pyrazinamide combination is the recommended choice

Chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid 300 mg/day

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination

 

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