Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease caused by the bacillus mycobacterium tuberculosis, often accompanied by fever and a loss of appetite. It is primarily an infection of the lungs, but any organ system is susceptible, so its manifestations may be varied.

Industry: Health care

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Tuberculosis

directly observed therapy (DOT)

Health care; Tuberculosis

An adherence-enhancing strategy in which an HCW or other designated person watches the patient swallow each dose of medication.

DNA probe

Health care; Tuberculosis

A technique that allows rapid and precise identification of mycobacteria (e.g., M. tuberculosis and M. bovis) that are grown in culture. The identification can often be completed in 2 hours.

droplet nuclei

Health care; Tuberculosis

Microscopic particles (i.e., 1-5 mm in diameter) produced when a person coughs, sneezes, shouts, or sings. The droplets produced by an infectious TB patient can carry tubercle bacilli and can remain ...

primary drug-resistance

Health care; Tuberculosis

A resistance to one or more anti-TB drugs that exists before a patient is treated with the drug(s). Primary resistance occurs in persons exposed to and infected with a drug-resistant strain of M. ...

drug-susceptibility pattern

Health care; Tuberculosis

The anti-TB drugs to which the tubercle bacilli cultured from a TB patient are susceptible or resistant based on drug- susceptibility tests.

drug-susceptibility tests

Health care; Tuberculosis

Laboratory tests that determine whether the tubercle bacilli cultured from a patient are susceptible or resistant to various anti-TB drugs.

acquired drug resistance

Health care; Tuberculosis

A resistance to one or more anti-TB drugs that develops while a patient is receiving therapy and which usually results from the patient's nonadherence to therapy or the prescription of an ...