Here is the combined answer covering both your Micro and Patho TB questions, sourced directly from Robbins and Sherris Medical Microbiology.
TUBERCULOSIS - Combined Micro + Patho Answer
1. Introduction
Organism: Mycobacterium tuberculosis - obligate aerobe, facultative intracellular pathogen, non-spore forming, non-motile, acid-fast bacillus (AFB). Cell wall is lipid-rich (mycolic acid + LAM), making it resistant to most antibiotics and staining.
Transmission: Airborne droplet nuclei from a person with active TB. Mid-lung zones (middle and lower lobes) most commonly seeded initially.
2. Pathogenesis
Primary TB: Inhaled bacilli seed alveoli โ lymphatic drainage to hilar nodes โ haematogenous spread (Sherris Medical Microbiology)
Step-by-step:
Stage 1 - Macrophage Evasion:
Inhaled bacilli deposited in alveoli โ phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages (AM) โ MTB blocks phagosome acidification โ survives and multiplies inside AM โ bacteria spread via lymphatics to hilar nodes โ low-level bacteraemia โ seeding of liver, spleen, kidney, bone, brain, lung apices
Stage 2 - Immune Response (3-9 weeks later):
Macrophages/dendritic cells release IL-12 and IFN-ฮณ โ recruit CD4+ T cells โ Th1 immune response activated โ IFN-ฮณ activates macrophages โ CD8+ cytotoxic T cells destroy infected macrophages โ granuloma formation
Granuloma structure:
- Centre: caseous necrosis (due to DTH response)
- Middle: epithelioid macrophages (activated), foamy macrophages
- Outer: lymphocytes, fibroblasts, multinucleated Langhans giant cells
Two competing forces:
- Th1 activation โ controls infection โ resolution
- DTH response โ tissue destruction โ cavitation if DTH wins
Source: Sherris Medical Microbiology, 8e; Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology
3. Primary Complex (Ghon Complex) - [Patho Q]
Definition: The combined lesion of primary TB consisting of:
| Component | Description |
|---|
| Ghon focus | 1-1.5 cm grey-white consolidation in lower part of upper lobe or upper part of lower lobe, near pleura. Centre undergoes caseous necrosis |
| Lymphangitis | Spread of bacilli via lymphatics to regional nodes |
| Ghon complex | Ghon focus + involved hilar/regional lymph nodes (both caseate) |
| Ranke complex | Ghon complex after fibrosis + calcification (visible on X-ray) |
Outcome in 95% of cases: Cell-mediated immunity controls โ fibrosis โ calcification โ Ranke complex โ latent TB
Outcome in 5%: Progressive primary TB (especially in HIV, severe malnutrition - CD4 <200 cells/ยตL) - no granulomas, sheets of macrophages with numerous bacilli
Source: Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology
4. Secondary (Reactivation) TB - [Patho Q]
- Arises in a previously sensitized host
- Classically localized to the apex of upper lobes (high Oโ tension favors MTB growth)
- Reactivation triggers: immunosuppression, malnutrition, alcoholism, diabetes, HIV, old age
- Prompt tissue response walls off the focus; regional lymph nodes less involved than in primary
- Cavity formation: caseous material erodes bronchus wall โ discharge โ pulmonary cavity โ coughing spreads bacilli to others
5. Clinical Manifestations - [Both Questions]
Pulmonary TB
| Type | Manifestations |
|---|
| Primary | Often asymptomatic or mild fever, malaise. CXR: mid-zone infiltrate + hilar adenopathy (Ghon complex) |
| Reactivation | Cough (universal symptom), initially dry then productive, haemoptysis, night sweats, weight loss, low-grade fever, fatigue |
Extrapulmonary TB Manifestations (Enumerate - Patho Q)
- Miliary TB - haematogenous spread โ millet-seed lesions in lungs, liver, spleen, marrow
- TB Meningitis - most serious; universally fatal pre-antibiotics
- TB Lymphadenitis - most common extrapulmonary; cervical nodes ("scrofula")
- TB Pericarditis - constrictive pericarditis
- TB Pleuritis - exudative pleural effusion
- TB Peritonitis - ascites
- TB of Spine (Pott's disease) - vertebral body destruction โ gibbus deformity
- TB Arthritis - weight-bearing joints (hip, knee)
- Renal TB - haematuria, sterile pyuria, "putty kidney"
- Adrenal TB - Addison's disease
- TB Epididymitis/Orchitis - infertility
- Lupus Vulgaris - cutaneous TB, face (most common skin form)
6. Microscopy (AFB Smear) - [Patho + Micro Q]
- Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain: MTB stains red (acid-fast) against blue background
- Auramine-Rhodamine stain: Fluorescent - MTB glows yellow-green; better sensitivity for screening
- AFB smear detects in only ~65% of culture-positive sputum specimens
- Concentration by centrifugation before staining improves yield
- AFB positivity is NOT specific for MTB (other mycobacteria stain similarly)
- Sputum: 3 samples on 3 consecutive mornings (early morning deep-cough sample)
Histology of granuloma:
- Caseating granuloma = central caseous necrosis + epithelioid macrophages + Langhans giant cells + lymphocytes
- Non-caseating granuloma = less common in TB; more typical of sarcoidosis
7. Diagnosis - Methods - [Both Questions]
A. Smear Microscopy
- ZN stain / Auramine fluorescence
- Sensitivity ~65%; Specificity: not specific (all AFB stain positive)
B. Culture - Gold Standard
- Solid media: Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium - pale yellow, rough colonies in 3-8 weeks
- Liquid media (MGIT - Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube): Faster, 1-3 weeks; fluorometric/radiometric/colorimetric indicator detects growth
- Required for: confirmation + full drug susceptibility testing (DST)
C. Molecular Methods - [Micro Q]
| Method | Details |
|---|
| PCR (Xpert MTB/RIF) | Detects MTB DNA + rifampin resistance (rpoB gene) simultaneously in 2 hours. High specificity; sensitivity ~30% in pleural fluid but higher in sputum/biopsy. Cannot replace culture as cannot do full DST |
| Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) | Targets both DNA and rRNA sequences. Rapid, high specificity. WHO-endorsed for diagnosis |
| RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) | Strain typing for epidemiological studies (outbreak tracing) |
| Gene-based susceptibility testing | Screens for known resistance genes (e.g., katG for INH resistance, rpoB for rifampicin resistance) |
| IGRA (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay) | In vitro T-cell test (QuantiFERON-TB Gold, T-SPOT.TB). Detects IFN-ฮณ release in response to MTB-specific antigens (ESAT-6, CFP-10). More specific than TST - NOT affected by BCG vaccination |
D. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST / Mantoux / PPD)
Procedure: Intradermal injection of 5 TU PPD (purified protein derivative) on volar surface of forearm โ read at 48-72 hours
Interpretation (induration, not erythema):
| Induration | Positive in |
|---|
| โฅ5 mm | HIV+, recent TB contact, CXR with fibrotic lesions, immunosuppressed |
| โฅ10 mm | High-risk groups (healthcare workers, immigrants, IV drug users, silicosis, DM) |
| โฅ15 mm | Low-risk general population |
Mechanism: Type IV (Delayed-Type) Hypersensitivity - CD4+ T cell mediated
Positive TST means: Past or present MTB infection - does NOT differentiate active from latent TB
False negatives (Anergy):
- HIV/AIDS, severe disseminated TB, malnutrition, Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoidosis, immunosuppressants, viral infections
False positives:
- BCG vaccination (usually only 5-10 mm), atypical mycobacteria infection
TST vs IGRA:
| Feature | TST | IGRA |
|---|
| BCG interference | Yes | No |
| Atypical myco interference | Yes | No |
| Requires 2nd visit | Yes (read at 48-72h) | No |
| Cost | Cheap | Expensive |
| Active vs latent | Cannot distinguish | Cannot distinguish |
8. Treatment - [Micro Q]
Principle: Multi-drug therapy to prevent resistance emergence (double/triple mutation probability extremely low)
Standard Regimen (RIPE):
| Phase | Drugs | Duration |
|---|
| Intensive phase | Rifampicin (R) + Isoniazid (H) + Pyrazinamide (Z) + Ethambutol (E) | 2 months |
| Continuation phase | Rifampicin (R) + Isoniazid (H) | 4 months |
| Total | | 6 months |
Drug mechanisms:
- Isoniazid (INH): Inhibits mycolic acid synthesis (targets InhA); active intra + extracellularly
- Rifampicin: Inhibits RNA polymerase (rpoB); active intra + extracellularly; marker for MDR-TB
- Pyrazinamide: Active at acidic pH inside cells (intracellular); sterilizing activity
- Ethambutol: Inhibits LAM (arabinogalactan) synthesis in cell wall
Second-line drugs (for MDR-TB):
para-Aminosalicylic acid, Ethionamide, Cycloserine, Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin)
Drug resistance definitions:
- MDR-TB: Resistant to Isoniazid AND Rifampicin
- XDR-TB: MDR + resistant to fluoroquinolones + at least one injectable second-line drug
- TDR-TB: Resistant to all available drugs
9. Atypical (Non-tuberculous) Mycobacteria (NTM) - [Micro Q]
Also called MOTT (Mycobacteria Other Than Tuberculosis). Environmental organisms, NOT transmitted person-to-person.
| Species | Disease | Key Treatment |
|---|
| M. kansasii | Resembles TB (pulmonary) | Rifampin + INH + Ethambutol |
| M. avium complex (MAC) | Pulmonary in chronic lung disease; Disseminated in AIDS (CD4 <50) | Azithromycin/Clarithromycin + Ethambutol ยฑ Rifabutin |
| M. scrofulaceum | Cervical adenitis in children | Surgical excision (curative); Macrolide + Rifampin |
| M. marinum | Granulomatous skin disease (fish tank/swimming pool granuloma) | Clarithromycin + Ethambutol or Doxycycline |
| M. ulcerans | Buruli ulcer (skin ulcers, Africa) | Clarithromycin + Rifampin |
| M. chelonae / M. fortuitum | Abscesses, wound infections, bone/joint | Amikacin + Clarithromycin |
| M. leprae | Leprosy | Dapsone + Rifampin ยฑ Clofazimine |
Key feature of NTM in AIDS: M. avium complex is the most common NTM in AIDS. Causes disseminated disease when CD4 <50 cells/ยตL - fever, night sweats, weight loss, anaemia, diarrhoea. Prophylaxis: Azithromycin 1200 mg weekly when CD4 <50.
NTM and TST: NTM infection causes false-positive TST (usually 5-10 mm induration). IGRA is not affected by NTM.
Sources: Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology, Robbins Cotran & Kumar Pathologic Basis of Disease, Sherris & Ryan's Medical Microbiology 8e, Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, Katzung's Basic & Clinical Pharmacology 16e