Epidemiology or pathogenecity of mybacterium tubrtculosis - PowerPoint Presentation Example

TB Epidemiology TB Epidemiology Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex includes Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium bovis and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease spreads by inhalation of infectious droplets that are discharged into the air when a tuberculosis patient coughs. Considerable variation in the burden of disease exists throughout the world. Robert claims that the highest rates (100/100,000) are in sub-Saharan Africa, India, China and Southeast Asia (Serafino-Wani, 2012). Richard however includes countries like Indonesia, Philippines and Russian Federation also, in the list of 22 countries where the burden of disease is the highest (Chaisson, 2007).

In Robert’s opinion, the major contributors to the resurging epidemic of disease are Drug resistance, HIV and Poverty. Richard has also included some other factors that are contributing towards the increasing incidence of disease like lack of political will, poor infrastructure, and weak organization of health services and increasing incidence in prisons. In Roberts opinion, person’s at high risk include people who have had recent contact with an infected person or persons who are immunocompromised due to any reason.

Richard’s assertion is that out of those who are exposed, only 30% develop the disease. In his opinion, severity of disease and duration of exposure to the infected person are also the variables that determine the chances of infection. HIV as a cause of resurgence of the incidence of tuberculosis has been agreed upon by both authors. Robert’s understanding is that MDR disease is more prevalent among cases of relapsed disease or defaulters. Richard has agreed to this notion and includes the immunocompromised patients to this group of disease in addition to those included by Roberts.

ReferencesChaisson, R., & Johns Hopkins University Center for Tuberculosis Research (2007). TB Epidemiology. Retrieved from http://ocw.jhsph.edu/courses/EpiInfectiousDisease/PDFs/EID_lec12_Chaisson.pdfSerafino-Wani, R. L. (2012). Tuberculosis 1. Epidemiology of mycobacterium tuberculosis.South Sudan Medical Journal. Retrieved from http://www.southsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/may-2012/tuberculosis-1.-epidemiology-of-mycobacterium-tuberculosis.html