Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs, causing symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. It can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
AP course connection
Topic 8.15: 8.15 Pathogens and Infectious Diseases
Antibiotic Resistance: The ability of bacteria to resist the effects of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
Latent TB Infection: A condition where someone has been infected with tuberculosis bacteria but does not have active disease symptoms.
Multi-drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB): A form of tuberculosis that is resistant to at least two of the most powerful anti-TB drugs, making treatment more challenging.