What it means
The most common form of tuberculosistoo-ber-kyoo-LOH-sisAn infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most often attacks the lungs.tubercul/o small swelling-osis abnormal conditionFull entry . Active lung disease brings a cough lasting 3 weeks or more, sometimes with blood, along with fever, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness. It spreads when a person with active disease coughs, sneezes or talks. Treatment takes months of several drugs together, such as isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamidepeer-uh-ZIN-uh-mideAn oral antitubercular drug used for the first 2 months of treatment for active tuberculosis.Full entry and ethambutoleh-THAM-byoo-tolAn oral antitubercular drug used with other drugs to treat tuberculosis.Full entry .
For the nurse
Use airborne precautions: a negative-pressure room with the door closed and a fit-tested N95 respirator for staff. Collect sputum samples early in the morning. Stress taking every dose; directly observed therapy may be used.
At a glance
| Spanish | tuberculosis pulmonar |
|---|---|
| Also written | pulmonary TB |
Related terms
tuberculosis
An infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most often attacks the lungs.
tuberculin skin test
A screening test in which a small amount of tuberculin protein is injected just under the skin of the forearm and the spot is checked days later.
airborne infection
An infection that spreads through tiny germ-carrying particles that stay floating in the air and can travel some distance.
streptomycin
An aminoglycoside antibiotic given by injection, used mainly for tuberculosis and a few rare infections.
ethambutol
An oral antitubercular drug used with other drugs to treat tuberculosis.
pyrazinamide
An oral antitubercular drug used for the first 2 months of treatment for active tuberculosis.