your healthcare connection
Transmission of TB Bacteria
TB is caused by an organism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis organisms are sometimes called tubercle bacilli.
M. tuberculosis is a type of mycobacteria. Mycobacteria can cause a variety of diseases. Some mycobacteria are called tuberculous mycobacteria because they cause TB or diseases similar to TB. These mycobacteria are M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. africanum. Other mycobacteria are called nontuberculous mycobacteria because they do not cause TB. One common type of nontuberculous mycobacteria is M. avium complex. Nontuberculous mycobacteria are NOT usually spread from person to person.
TB is spread from person to person through the air. When a person with infectious TB disease (TB that can be spread) coughs or sneezes, tiny particles containing M. tuberculosis may be expelled into the air. These particles, called droplet nuclei, are about 1 to 5 microns in diameter — less than 1/5000 of an inch. Droplet nuclei can remain suspended in the air for several hours, depending on the environment.
If another person inhales air that contains these droplet nuclei, transmission may occur. Transmission is the spread of an organism, such as M. tuberculosis, from one person to another.
Not everyone who is exposed to an infectious TB patient becomes infected with M. tuberculosis. The probability that TB will be transmitted depends on three factors:
M. tuberculosis is a type of mycobacteria. Mycobacteria can cause a variety of diseases. Some mycobacteria are called tuberculous mycobacteria because they cause TB or diseases similar to TB. These mycobacteria are M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. africanum. Other mycobacteria are called nontuberculous mycobacteria because they do not cause TB. One common type of nontuberculous mycobacteria is M. avium complex. Nontuberculous mycobacteria are NOT usually spread from person to person.
TB is spread from person to person through the air. When a person with infectious TB disease (TB that can be spread) coughs or sneezes, tiny particles containing M. tuberculosis may be expelled into the air. These particles, called droplet nuclei, are about 1 to 5 microns in diameter — less than 1/5000 of an inch. Droplet nuclei can remain suspended in the air for several hours, depending on the environment.
If another person inhales air that contains these droplet nuclei, transmission may occur. Transmission is the spread of an organism, such as M. tuberculosis, from one person to another.
Not everyone who is exposed to an infectious TB patient becomes infected with M. tuberculosis. The probability that TB will be transmitted depends on three factors:
- How contagious is the TB patient?
- In what kind of environment did the exposure occur?
- How long did the exposure last?
Comment
About
© 2010 Created by Eric on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of Medicine.org to add comments!
Join Medicine.org