What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a communicable disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, most frequently a pathogen from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The disease usually affects the lungs (pulmonary tuberculosis), but it can manifest anywhere outside the lungs as well (extrapulmonary tuberculosis). Tuberculosis spreads through person-to-person transmission, such as when individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis release bacteria through coughing.

TB exists along a continuum which ranges from asymptomatic TB infection to symptomatic TB disease. People with TB infection are asymptomatic and not contagious; however, people with TB disease may present symptoms and can infect other people. The risk of progressing from infection to active TB disease is highest in the first two years after initial infection.

Tuberculosis remains a major global public health problem and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Over 10 million new cases of TB disease are recorded each year, causing over 1 million deaths. Additionally, a quarter of the world population has been infected with M. tuberculosis, which is why diagnosing and managing TB infection is so critical for reducing and eliminating tuberculosis worldwide.

Treatment for TB involves taking a combination of drugs for several months, which is costly and frequently causes side effects. As a result, patients can find it difficult to adhere to treatment regimens. Unfortunately, incomplete or incorrectly administered treatment can lead to antimicrobial resistance. Multidrug resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB variants are more difficult and costly to treat, and lead to higher mortality rates.

bioMérieux offers solutions for diagnosing both TB infection and TB disease.