Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), infects over two billion people worldwide (90% latent infection; 10% active-disease). It typically affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect other body organs (extra pulmonary TB). Approximately 10 million new active-TB patients emerge from those latently infected every year, 1.7 million die, making TB the largest infectious disease killer. TB spreads through air droplets when people who are infected with TB expel bacteria into the air by coughing or sneezing.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Infection