Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria spread from person to person via sneezing and cough. It is highly contagious. Most TB infections are latent (no symptoms), with about 1 in 10 having an active infection and symptoms including cough, exhaustion, and more.
Both latent and active TB is treatable with antibiotics, but can be fatal if left untreated.
How Is Tuberculosis Diagnosed?
Tuberculosis infection is diagnosed through a blood test (interferon gamma release assays) or a skin test (tuberculin skin test, TST). Both tests differentiate whether or not tuberculosis bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) has resulted in an infection.
Not all individuals infected with tuberculosis become sick from the bacteria. If there is a concern that a person has become sick from tuberculosis, additional tests such as a chest x-ray or sputum (phlegm) culture test may be done as part of the evaluation.
How Is Tuberculosis Treated?
Tuberculosis is treated with specific medications that target the TB bacteria within the body. Providers review individual cases and make recommendations on what combination of medication is required in order to treat each patient.
Tuberculosis Research
The Tuberculosis Research Unit at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is engaged in multicenter consortium studies, investigator-initiated local research studies, and educational efforts locally, regionally, and nationally. The group is also active within the Centers for Disease Control’s Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC), enrolling patients in both latent and active TB treatment trials.