Question

An acid fast stain is used to visualize bacteria belonging to which Genus?

Which bacteria of this genus causes tuberculosis? How many cases of TB were diagnosed in the US in 2019? How many people are living with TB in the United States in 2019?

How is the drug regime to treat a case of active drug-susceptible TB (intensive phase and continuation phase)? What are the antibiotics used?

Answer 1

The acid-fast stain is a differential stain used to identify acid-fast organisms such as members of the genus Mycobacterium

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a nonmotile, acid-fast, obligate aerobe. The bacilli are 2-4 um in length and have a very slow generation time of between 15 and 20 hours. The cell wall of the mycobacterium is unique in that it is composed mainly of acidic waxes, specifically mycolic acids.

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

During 2019, a total of 8,920 new cases were provisionally reported in the United States

For initial empiric treatment of TB, start patients on a 4-drug regimen: isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and either ethambutol or streptomycin.

he most common medications used to treat tuberculosis include:

• Isoniazid.
• Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• Ethambutol (Myambutol)
• Pyrazinamide.

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