Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogenic bacterial species in the Mycobacteriaceae family, responsible for causing tuberculosis (TB). It primarily affects the lungs but can also infect other parts of the body.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
M. tuberculosis is an acid-fast bacterium identified using Ziehl-Neelsen staining due to its waxy cell wall.
It grows slowly with a generation time of approximately 15-20 hours, making it challenging to culture in laboratories.
The bacterium is aerobic and thrives in oxygen-rich environments like the lungs.
Transmission occurs through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) arises when M. tuberculosis becomes resistant to first-line antimicrobial drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin.