Tuberculosis - resistance and atypical mycobacteria
Tuberculosis (TB for short) is an infectious disease which usually attacks the lungs and is caused predominantly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The main cause for concern is the spread of TB strains that are extremely resistant to medication. More than 2 million people around the world die each year from tuberculosis.
Currently, it is mainly the Eastern European and African countries which are affected by the disease; infection rates are falling in the German-speaking countries.
However, there is a heightened risk of transmission due to a steady increase in travel activity. Infection with tuberculosis is usually the result of droplet infection. The TB pathogens penetrate via mucous membranes, open wounds or even fresh tattoos.
The probability of catching tuberculosis is many times higher if an HIV infection is already present.
Typical and atypical Mycobacteria
Typical mycobacterial strains include TB-causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the leprosycausing Mycobacterium leprae.
In a healthy person, “atypical” or “non-tuberculous” mycobacteria do not lead to the outbreak of TB but can trigger a tuberculosis-like disease if the immune system has been significantly weakened (e.g. AIDS). Examples of these bacteria strains include Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium intracellulare, which can cause lung and skin infections as well as abnormal swelling of the lymph nodes.
The most alarming fact, however, is the development of resistance to mycobacteria. The spread of extremely resistant XDR tuberculosis strains (extensively drug-resistant) has increased considerably in recent years. It is now almost impossible to combat them with medicinal means, i. e. using antibiotics. Resistance to medication does not mean, however, that at the same time there is also a resistance to disinfectants.
Careful disinfection in the everyday clinical environment is therefore of great importance today, and is a particularly effective and controllable measure for infection prevention and breaking down of infection chains.