Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a potentially deadly bacterium that can come into contact with humans and create an unpleasant scenario. Because of the potential danger that this bacterium holds, numerous diagnostic tests exist that will help to accurately identify this particular strand. The first test that is done on an unidentified bacterium is the Gram Stain. This stain allows for the determination of whether the bacterium that is being tested is either gram-positive or gram-negative (Murray and Baron, 544). This is important as almost all of the bacteria in the world fall into these two categories.
The difference between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria is in the composition of the bacterial wall. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer that is made up of polysaccharides; however, gram-negative bacteria have a thinner peptidoglycan layer, but it has an extra lipid layer surrounding the outside of its cell wall (Brooks et al., 232). This difference is pertinent for deducing the type of bacterium that is being tested. The gram stain also allows for the determination of morphology and size. In the case of M. tuberculosis, it is neither gram-negative nor gram-positive, and are bacilli or rod-shaped (Murray and Baron, 544). Because of an inconclusive gram test, subsequent diagnostic testing is necessary to identify this bacterium.
The acid-fast stain is conducted on bacteria that do not fall into a gram-positive or a gram-negative category. Very few bacteria will actually test positive for the acid-fast test, but those that do are essentially extremely dangerous. When a bacterium does not take up the dyes used in the gram stain, then that is the first indication that further acid-fast testing needs to be done in order to confirm the identity of the particular bacteria (Schaechter et al., 257). An acid-fact test uses stronger acids and detergents to break down the bacterial wall in order to allow for the penetration of the dyes. Mycobacterium tuberculosis tests positive for the acid-fast test. This means that their cell wall is composed of a waxy acid, mostly mycolic acid that...
Tuberculosis Communicable disease: Tuberculosis Tuberculosis is a widespread, lethal, and infectious/transmittable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacterial infection usually begins in the form of innumerable strains of mycobacteria. In the past, tuberculosis was also termed as Phthisis or Phthisis pulmonalis. Its short form is known worldwide to be TB, or MTB. Stereotypically, tuberculosis is a lung infection that attacks the lungs; however, it can as well affect the other parts of
From the lung apices to the hemi-diaphragms, 1.5-mm thick sections were taken at 10-mm intervals. The images were prospectively reconstructed with the use of a high-resolution bone algorithm in diagnosing the lung lesions. The HRCT results were then compared with the results of clinical and para-clinical work-up on the patients. The analysis and comparison of rank values were performed using the chi-square P-values less than 0.05, and the sensitivity,
Tuberculosis, commonly abbreviated as TB and known throughout historical literature as consumption, is an infection caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. (Psy Guy, 2005) Pulmonary TB is the most common type of infection, which affects the lungs. There are several other manifestations of the infection including an infection of the central nervous system, known as meningitis, an infection of the circulatory system, known as miliary TB, as well as infections
Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease primarily affecting the respiratory system. Symptoms include coughing, phlegm, fever, and weight loss. The disease can be fatal if left untreated, and is treatable with medications including antibiotics. Tuberculosis is more common in developing countries, but can affect anyone with a lowered immune system. Preventing the spread of tuberculosis involves public health campaigns to raise awareness. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis is called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis The Emergence and Re-emergence of Tuberculosis: Prevalence of Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the 21st Century In the 2003 lung disease statistics, tuberculosis is considered the "foremost cause of death from a single infectious disease," wherein TB is prevalent among developing countries, causing 99% of deaths (ALA, 2004). Indeed, American Lung Association (2004) considers tuberculosis as the an "ancient scourge," gaining prevalence in the 19th century and resurging once again in the 21st
Tuberculosis [...] tuberculosis as an emerging infectious disease. Tuberculosis is not a new disease, and the fact that it still exists in the world illustrates the tenacity of this infectious disease and the difficulties in continually treating and eliminating these types of diseases. Tuberculosis continues to kill millions of people each year and scientists are attempting to find new cures for the disease as it spirals out of control
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