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Tuberculosis

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis 

What is it? 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is the bacterium that causes Tuberculosis (TB) an infectious disease that damages the lungs and other parts of the body. There are 2 types of TB, latent TB infection when someone is infected with TB but does not get sick and are not considered to be infectious, and active TB when someone is infected with TB and develops symptoms.  

Symptoms of TB include a prolonged cough, fever and night sweats, chest pain, weakness, fatigue and unintended weight loss. The incubation period from infection to reaction is about 3 – 9 weeks.  

In 2022 an estimated 10.6 million people became ill with TB globally, with 18% of these cases falling in the Western Pacific region.  

Multidrug-resistant TB 

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a form of TB that is resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid. MDR-TB continues to spread due to person-to-person transmission and mismanagement of TB treatments, including inappropriate or incorrect use of TB drugs, ineffective formulations, poor quality medications or poor storage conditions and ending treatments early.  

How is it transmitted?

M. tuberculosis is primarily transmitted via the inhalation of aerosol particles that are produced by a person with pulmonary TB.

At risk groups 

People at increased risk of acquiring TB include, close contacts of an infectious TB case, healthcare workers who were born or have worked in countries with a high incidence of TB, people from countries with a high incidence of TB, recently returned travellers from high TB countries, and people who live in overcrowded conditions where TB cases occur.   

Prevention? 

The most effective way to prevent transmission are public health measures of early diagnosis, treatment and contact tracing.  

While the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for TB does not prevent a person from TB infection, it can help in preventing severe or life-threatening TB. The BCG vaccine efficacy is more limited in adults compared to children, and it is recommended for children who live in areas where TB is prevalent, children travelling to areas where TB is common, and some healthcare workers.  

People with pulmonary TB should be isolated at home or in hospital on airborne precautions, until they have had anti-TB therapy for 14 days and sputum smears are negative Local health departments will undertake contact tracing and provide advice as needed.  

Key messages: 

  • TB vaccination is not routinely provided. 
  • The most effective prevention of transmission is early diagnosis and treatment. 

References 

  1. Australian Government. Tuberculosis (TB). 2022;
  2. Health direct. Tuberculosis (TB). Healthdirect Australia Limited, . 2024. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/tuberculosis
  3. World Health Organization. Tuberculosis. 2024;
  4. Victorian Department of Health. Mycobacterial infections (tuberculosis). Victorian Department of Health Accessed 30 October, 2024. https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/mycobacterial-infections-tuberculosis#key-messages
  5. World Health Organization. Tuberculosis: Multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) or rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB). WHO. 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/tuberculosis-multidrug-resistant-tuberculosis-(mdr-tb)
  6. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. National health and Medical Research Council; 2019.
  7. Tuberculosis. CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units (CDNA) (2022).
  8. Health direct. Whooping cough. 2024;
  9. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). The Australian Immunisation Handbook. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care; 2022.