Latent TB
Being exposed to M. tuberculosis
doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll
get sick. Among the 2.5 billion
people who carry the germ, most
have latent TB.
People with latent TB aren’t
contagious and have no
symptoms because their immune
system is protecting them from
getting sick. But it is possible for
latent TB to develop into active
TB.
RISK FACTORS ETIOLOGY
The risk for getting TB is highest Mycobacterium tuberculosis
for people who are in close
Characteristics:
contact with those who have TB.
 Slightly curved shaped
Close contact
 Thick lipid cell wall
Immune-compromised
 Can remain dormant for
status
years
Lacking adequate health
 Aerobic
care
 Non-motile
Pre-existing condition
 Multiplies slowly (18-24)
Immigrants
 Droplet nuclei (coughing,
Institutionalization
sneezing, laughing)
Occupation
 Exposure to tuberculosis
Transmission
 Co- infection with HIV
Person-to-person
Less frequent by ingestion
of M. bovis found in
unpasteurized milk
Transplacental route ( rare)