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CHAPTER 9
» General Considerations
Tuberculosis is one of the world’s most widespread and
deadly illnesses. M tuberculosis, the organism that causes
tuberculosis infection and disease, infects one-quarter of
the world’s population, nearly 2 billion people. Based on
WHO data, there were 10.6 million new cases of tuberculosis worldwide in 2022 and 1.3 million deaths. The incidence has increased since 2020 after having fallen from
2005 to 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment worldwide, resulting in an
increase in global incidence of 7.5 million in 2022—the
highest since 1995. While most incident cases occur in
low- and middle-income countries, tuberculosis is present
in all regions of the world. In the United States, an estimated 13 million people are infected with M tuberculosis,
with 8330 reported active cases in 2023. Tuberculosis
occurs disproportionately among disadvantaged populations, such as the malnourished and those living in overcrowded or substandard housing. There is an increased
occurrence of tuberculosis among individuals with HIV.
Infection with M tuberculosis begins when a susceptible
person inhales airborne droplet nuclei containing viable
organisms. Tubercle bacilli that reach the alveoli are ingested
by alveolar macrophages. Infection follows if the inoculum
escapes alveolar macrophage microbicidal activity. Once
infection is established, lymphatic and hematogenous dissemination of tuberculosis typically occurs before the
development of an effective immune response. This stage
of infection, primary tuberculosis, is usually clinically and
radiographically silent. In most persons with intact cellmediated immunity, T cells and macrophages surround the
organisms in granulomas that limit their multiplication
and spread. The infection is contained but not eradicated,
since viable organisms may lie dormant within granulomas
for years to decades.
Individuals with tuberculosis infection that is latent do
not have active disease and cannot transmit the organism to
others. However, reactivation of disease may occur if the
patient’s immune defenses are impaired. Tuberculosis
disease (ie, active tuberculosis) will develop in 5–15% of
individuals with latent tuberculosis infection who are not
given preventive therapy; half of these cases occur in the
2 years following primary infection. Diverse conditions such
as gastrectomy, silicosis, diabetes mellitus, and an impaired
immune response (eg, HIV infection; therapy with corticosteroids, TNF inhibitors, or other immunosuppressive
drugs) are associated with an increased risk of reactivation.
In approximately 5% of cases, the immune response is
inadequate to contain the primary infection and progres-
sive primary tuberculosis develops, accompanied by both
pulmonary and constitutional symptoms. The clinical presentation does not definitively distinguish primary disease
from reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection. Standard
teaching has held that 90% of tuberculosis in adults represents activation of latent disease; however, as many as onethird of new cases in urban populations are primary
infections resulting from person-to-person transmission.
The prevalence of drug-resistant strains is increasing
worldwide, though in resourced countries including the
United States, the rate of multidrug-resistant isolates has
fallen to less than 1%. Risk factors for drug resistance
include emigration from regions with a high prevalence of
drug-resistant tuberculosis, close and prolonged contact
with individuals with drug-resistant tuberculosis, unsuccessful or inappropriate initial therapy, and nonadherence
to treatment. Drug resistance may be single or multiple.
Monoresistant tuberculosis is resistant to one first-line
antituberculous drug, either isoniazid or rifampin.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is resistant
to isoniazid and rifampin, and possibly additional agents.
Pre-extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB)
is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin and a fluoroquinolone, or to isoniazid and rifampin and at least one of
amikacin, capreomycin, or kanamycin. Extensively drug-
resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is resistant to isoniazid,
rifampicin, a fluoroquinolone, plus a second-line injectable
(amikacin, capreomycin, or kanamycin) or bedaquiline, or
linezolid. Outcomes of drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment are worse than drug-sensitive tuberculosis organisms, and outcomes appear to vary with HIV status.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
The patient with pulmonary tuberculosis typically presents
with slowly progressive constitutional symptoms of malaise, anorexia, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. Chronic
cough is the most common pulmonary symptom. It may be
dry at first but typically becomes productive of purulent
sputum as the disease progresses. Blood-streaked sputum
is common, but significant hemoptysis is rarely a presenting symptom; life-threatening hemoptysis may occur in
advanced disease. Dyspnea is unusual unless there is extensive disease. On physical examination, the patient appears
chronically ill and malnourished and often has lymphadenopathy. On chest examination, there are no physical findings specific for tuberculosis infection. The examination
may be normal or may reveal classic findings such as posttussive apical rales.
B. Laboratory Findings
Definitive diagnosis depends on recovery of M tuberculosis
from cultures or identification of the organism by DNA or
RNA amplification techniques (in concert with appropriate
clinical context). At least three consecutive sputum specimens
are advised, which should be collected 8 hours apart and
include at least one early-morning sample. Acid-fast staining
of a sputum smear is performed initially as a screening
method, with sensitivity and negative predictive values that
are low (50–80%) with a single smear but may improve to
90% with serial sampling. Smear sensitivity is lower in
patients coinfected with HIV. Demonstration of acid-fast
bacilli on sputum smear does not establish a diagnosis of M
tuberculosis since nontuberculous mycobacteria may colonize
the airways and are increasingly recognized to cause clinical
illness in patients with underlying structural lung disease.
The slow rate of mycobacterial growth; the urgency to
provide early, appropriate treatment to patients to improve
their outcomes and limit community spread; and concerns
about potential drug toxicities in patients treated
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Table 9–13. Essential laboratory tests for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Test Time to Result Test Characteristics
Acid-fast bacilli light microscopy 1 day Three morning specimens recommended. Combined sensitivity of
Nucleic acid amplification test, detection
(NAAT-TB)
Nucleic acid amplification test, resistance
markers (NAAT-R)
Mycobacterial growth detection
Liquid (broth based) medium
Solid (agar or egg based) medium
Identification of M tuberculosis complex by
DNA probe or high-performance liquid
chromatography
First-line drug susceptibility testing
(liquid medium)
Second-line and novel compound drug
susceptibility testing
Liquid (broth based) medium
Solid (agar or egg based) medium
1
Following detection of mycobacterial growth.
Adapted from Diagnostic Standards and Classification of Tuberculosis in Adults and Children. This official statement of the American
Thoracic Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was adopted by the ATS Board of Directors, July 1999. This statement
was endorsed by the Council of the Infectious Disease Society of America, September 1999. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;161:1376.
1 day Sensitivity/specificity high for smear-positive specimens, 85–97% for
1–2 days Multiple assays for rifampin and isoniazid are available. Specificity
Up to 6–8 weeks
Avg 10–14 days
Avg 3–4 weeks
1
1 day
1–2 weeks
1–2 weeks
3–4 weeks
1
1
1
70% (54% for the first specimen, 11% for the second specimen, and
5% for the third specimen). First morning specimen increased yield
by 12% compared to spot specimen.
both; sensitivity falls in smear-negative specimens to ~66%. A
positive NAAT in smear-negative patients with intermediate to high
(> 30%) pretest probability of M tuberculosis infection is helpful
while a negative NAAT is not. Should not be ordered in patients with
low pretest probability of M tuberculosis infection.
uniformly high, > 98%. Sensitivity varies from about 84% to 96%,
increases with multiple specimens. See text for indications for
testing.
Liquid culture methods are more sensitive than solid culture methods
(~90% and 76%, respectively) with shorter time to detection but
higher contamination with bacterial growth. Specificity exceeds
99% for all methods.
May be useful in areas of low M tuberculosis incidence where
nontuberculous mycobacteria are commonly isolated.
Gold standard. Should be performed routinely on the initial isolate.
1
empirically who do not have tuberculosis infection have
fostered the use of rapid diagnostic techniques (Table 9–13).
Molecular diagnostics offer multiple options and many
advantages, though at increased expense. Nucleic acid
amplification testing not only detects M tuberculosis
(NAAT-TB) but also identifies resistance markers
(NAAT-R). NAAT-TB can identify M tuberculosis within
hours of sputum processing, allowing early isolation and
treatment, though the negative predictive value is lower in
smear-negative patients. In view of the rapidity of result in
concert with rifampin resistance identification, 2020 guidance
from the WHO recommends initial rapid molecular testing
for diagnosis and resistance profiling in persons in whom
pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis is suspected.
In patients who cannot produce satisfactory specimens
or when the smear of the spontaneously expectorated sputum is negative for acid-fast bacilli, sputum induction with
3% hypertonic saline should be performed. Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchial washings has similar diagnostic
yield to induced sputum; transbronchial lung biopsies do
not increase the diagnostic yield but may lead to earlier diagnosis by identifying tissue granulomas. Post-bronchoscopy
expectorated sputum specimens should be collected.
Positive blood cultures for M tuberculosis are uncommon
in patients with normal CD4 cell counts, but the organism
may be cultured from blood in up to 50% of patients who
are HIV seropositive with tuberculosis whose CD4 cell
counts are less than 100/mcL (less than 0.1 × 109/L); mycobacterial blood and urine cultures should be obtained in
such patients.
Tuberculous pleural effusions may be diagnosed on a
clinical basis, without confirmatory testing, in patients
with active pulmonary tuberculosis in whom there is no
suspicion for an alternative cause. If tuberculous effusion is
suspected in a patient without confirmed pulmonary
tuberculosis, diagnostic thoracentesis is recommended.
Pleural fluid cultures are positive for M tuberculosis in
23–58% of cases of pleural tuberculosis. Pleural fluid adenosine deaminase greater than 70 U/L has a 90% sensitivity
and specificity for pleural tuberculosis. If thoracentesis is
unrevealing, needle biopsy of the pleura reveals granulomatous inflammation in approximately 60% of patients
with pleural effusions caused by M tuberculosis. Culture of
three pleural biopsy specimens combined with microscopic examination of a pleural biopsy yields a diagnosis in
up to 90% of patients with pleural tuberculosis.
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C. Imaging
Radiographic abnormalities in pulmonary tuberculosis do
not reliably distinguish primary disease from reactivation
of latent tuberculosis (Figure 9–3). The chest imaging pattern traditionally associated with primary disease includes
small unilateral infiltrates, hilar and paratracheal lymph
node enlargement, and segmental atelectasis. Pleural effusion is present in 30–40% of patients, sometimes as the sole
radiographic abnormality. Reactivation tuberculosis traditionally has been associated with fibrocavitary apical disease, discrete nodules, and pneumonic infiltrates, usually
in the apical or posterior segments of the upper lobes or in
the superior segments of the lower lobes. Radiographic
A
B
▲
Figure 9–3. Pulmonary tuberculosis. Primary
pulmonary tuberculosis in a 20-year-old man with CXR
(A) showing right upper lobe consolidation (white
arrow) and right hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy (black arrows) and contrast-enhanced CT scan (B)
showing mediastinal lymphadenopathy (arrows). (Used,
with permission, from Carlos Santiago Restrepo, MD, in
Usatine RP, Smith MA, Mayeaux EJ Jr, Chumley H. The Color
Atlas of Family Medicine, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, 2013.)
evidence of disease in other locations may be present in up
to 30% of patients.
Patients with an impaired immune response are more
likely to have atypical pattern on CXR—that is, disease that
is not cavitary or associated with the upper lobe. In older
patients, lower lobe infiltrates with or without pleural effusion are frequently encountered. A “miliary” pattern (diffuse small nodular densities) can be seen with hematologic
or lymphatic dissemination of the organism. Immunocompromised patients—particularly those with late-stage HIV
infection—often display lower lung zone, diffuse, or miliary infiltrates; pleural effusions; and involvement of hilar
and, in particular, mediastinal lymph nodes.
Resolution of active tuberculosis leaves characteristic
radiographic findings. Dense nodules in the pulmonary
hila, with or without obvious calcification, upper lobe
fibronodular scarring, and bronchiectasis with volume loss
are common findings. Ghon (calcified primary focus) and
Ranke (calcified primary focus and calcified hilar lymph
node) complexes are seen in a minority of patients.
D. Special Examinations
Testing for latent tuberculosis infection is used to evaluate an
asymptomatic person in whom M tuberculosis infection is
suspected (eg, following contact exposure) or to establish the
prevalence of tuberculosis infection in a population. Testing
may be used in a person with symptoms of active tuberculosis, but a positive test does not distinguish between active and
latent infection, and a negative test does not rule out active
disease. Routine testing of individuals at low risk for tuberculosis is not recommended. Empiric treatment of latent tuberculosis without testing is considered appropriate in persons
with HIV or in young (less than 5 years old) household contacts of persons with active tuberculosis in endemic areas.
The traditional approach to testing for latent tuberculosis infection is the Mantoux tuberculin skin test. The
transverse width in millimeters of induration at the skin
test site is measured after 48–72 hours. To optimize test
performance, criteria for determining a positive reaction
vary depending on the likelihood of infection. Table 9–14
summarizes the criteria established by the CDC for test
interpretation. Skin test sensitivity and specificity are high:
77% and 97%, respectively. Specificity falls to 59% in populations previously vaccinated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin
(BCG, an attenuated form of Mycobacterium bovis). Falsenegative tuberculin skin test reactions may result from
improper testing technique; concurrent infections, including fulminant tuberculosis; malnutrition; advanced age;
immunologic disorders; malignancy; corticosteroid therapy; CKD; and HIV infection. Some individuals with latent
tuberculosis infection may have a negative tuberculin skin
test when tested many years after exposure. Anergy testing
is not recommended for routine use to distinguish a truenegative result from anergy. Interpretation of the tuberculin
skin test in persons who have previously received BCG vaccination is the same as in those who have not had BCG.
Interferon gamma release assays are in vitro assays of
CD4+ T-cell–mediated interferon gamma release in
response to stimulation by specific M tuberculosis antigens.
The antigens are absent from all BCG strains and most
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Table 9–14. Classification of positive tuberculin skin test reactions.
Induration Size Group
≥ 5 mm 1. Persons with HIV.
≥ 10 mm 1. People born in countries where TB disease is common.
≥ 15 mm 1. Persons with no known risk factors for tuberculosis.
1
A tuberculin skin test reaction is considered positive if the transverse diameter of the indurated area reaches the size required for the
specific group. All other reactions are considered negative.
Data from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/testing/skintesting.htm.
2. Recent contacts of a person with infectious tuberculosis.
3. Persons with fibrotic changes on CXRs suggestive of prior tuberculosis.
4. Patients with organ transplants and other immunosuppressed patients (receiving the equivalent of > 15 mg/day of
prednisone for 1 month or more, or those taking TNF-alpha antagonists).
2. Injection drug users without HIV.
3. Mycobacteriology laboratory personnel.
4. Residents of and employees in high-risk congregate settings: correctional institutions; long-term care facilities;
hospitals and other health care facilities; residential facilities for patients with HIV/AIDS; and homeless shelters.
5. Persons with medical conditions that increase the risk of progression to tuberculosis disease: gastrectomy, weight
loss to ≥ 10% below ideal body weight, jejunoileal bypass, diabetes mellitus, silicosis, advanced CKD, some
hematologic disorders (eg, leukemias, lymphomas), and other specific malignancies (eg, carcinoma of the head or
neck and lung).
6. Children younger than 5 years, children, and adolescents exposed to adults at high risk.
nontuberculous mycobacteria; therefore, the specificity of
interferon gamma release assays is superior to the tuberculin skin test in BCG-vaccinated individuals. Sensitivity is
comparable to the tuberculin skin test: 60–90% depending
on the specific assay and study population. Sensitivity is
reduced by HIV infection, particularly in patients with low
CD4 counts. Specificity is greater than 95%. Potential
advantages of interferon gamma release assay testing
include fewer false-positive results from prior BCG vaccination, better discrimination of positive responses due to
nontuberculous mycobacteria, and the requirement for
only one patient contact. Disadvantages include the need
for specialized laboratory equipment and personnel and
the substantially increased cost compared to the tuberculin
skin test. In endemic areas, interferon gamma release
assays are no more sensitive than the tuberculin skin test in
active tuberculosis (20–40% false-negative rate) and cannot distinguish active from latent disease.
In the diagnosis of latent infections, CDC guidelines
allow interferon gamma release assays to be used interchangeably with the tuberculin skin testing. Interferon
gamma release assays are preferred in patients with prior
BCG vaccination. In individuals with a positive tuberculin
skin test but a low prior probability of latent tuberculosis
infection and low-risk for progression to active disease, the
interferon gamma release assay may be helpful as a confirmatory test to exclude a false-positive tuberculin skin test.
1
antituberculous treatment are (1) to administer multiple
medications to which the organisms are susceptible; (2) to
provide the safest, most effective therapy for the shortest
period of time; (3) to ensure adherence to therapy; and
(4) to add at least two new antituberculous agents to a
regimen when treatment failure is suspected.
All suspected and confirmed cases of tuberculosis
should be reported promptly to local and state public
health authorities. Patients with tuberculosis should be
treated by clinicians who are skilled in the management of
this infection. Clinical expertise is especially important in
cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Nonadherence to antituberculous treatment is a major
cause of treatment failure, continued transmission of tuberculosis, and development of medication resistance. Adherence to treatment can be improved by providing detailed
patient education about tuberculosis and its treatment in
addition to a case manager who oversees all aspects of an
individual patient’s care. Directly observed therapy (DOT),
which requires that a health care worker physically observe
the patient ingest antituberculous medications in the home,
clinic, hospital, or elsewhere, also improves adherence to
treatment. The CDC recommends DOT for all patients
with drug-resistant tuberculosis and for those receiving
intermittent (twice- or thrice-weekly) therapy. Electronic
DOT (“eDOT”) is promising as a more efficient care model
in selected populations.
Hospitalization for initial therapy of tuberculosis is not
» Treatment
A. General Measures
The goals of therapy are to cure the individual patient,
minimize risk of morbidity and mortality related to treatment, reduce transmission of M tuberculosis to other per-
sons, and prevent the emergence of clinically significant
drug resistance in tubercle bacilli. The basic principles of
necessary for most patients. It should be considered if a
patient is incapable of self-care or is likely to expose new,
susceptible individuals to tuberculosis. Hospitalized
patients with active disease require a private room with
appropriate environmental controls, including negativepressure ventilation where available, until tubercle bacilli
are no longer found in their sputum (“smear-negative”) on
three consecutive smears taken on separate days.
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Table 9–15. Characteristics of antituberculous medications.
Medication
Isoniazid Peripheral neuropathy,
Rifampin Hepatitis, fever, rash,
Rifapentine Bone marrow suppres-
Pyrazinamide Hyperuricemia, hepato-
Ethambutol Optic neuritis (reversible
Streptomycin Eighth nerve damage,
Most Common Side
Effects
hepatitis, rash, mild
CNS effects.
flu-like illness, GI upset,
bleeding problems,
kidney failure.
sion, hematuria/pyuria,
hepatitis, GI upset, flulike illness.
toxicity, rash, GI upset,
joint aches.
with discontinuance of
drug; rare at 15 mg/kg);
rash.
nephrotoxicity.
Tests for Side
Effects Drug Interactions Remarks
AST and ALT;
neurologic
examination.
CBC, platelets,
AST and ALT.
CBC, platelets,
AST and ALT.
Uric acid, AST,
ALT.
Red-green color
discrimination
and visual
acuity.
Vestibular func-
tion (audiograms); BUN
and creatinine.
Phenytoin (synergistic); disulfiram. Bactericidal to both extracellular
Rifampin inhibits the effect of oral
contraceptives, quinidine, corticosteroids, warfarin, methadone,
digoxin, oral hypoglycemics;
aminosalicylic acid may interfere
with absorption of rifampin. Significant interactions with protease
inhibitors and nonnucleoside
reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Strong cytochrome P450 inducer
with multiple drug interactions.
Use in patients with HIV receiving
antiretroviral therapy should be
limited to experts in antiretroviral
therapy.
Rare. Bactericidal to intracellular
Rare. Bacteriostatic to both intracellular
Neuromuscular blocking agents may
be potentiated and cause prolonged paralysis.
and intracellular organisms.
Pyridoxine, 25–50 mg orally
daily, is given as prophylaxis for
neuropathy; 50–100 mg orally
daily as treatment for it.
Bactericidal to all populations of
organisms. Colors urine and
other body secretions orange.
May discolor contact lenses.
Bactericidal to both extracellular
and intracellular organisms.
Colors urine and other body
secretions orange. Long half-life,
can be administered weekly in
LTBI prophylaxis. Not for use in
induction phase of therapy.
organisms.
and extracellular organisms.
Mainly used to inhibit development of resistant mutants. Use
with caution in kidney disease
or when ophthalmologic testing
is not feasible.
Bactericidal to extracellular
organisms. Use with caution in
older patients or those with
kidney disease.
LTBI, latent tuberculosis infection.
Characteristics of antituberculous drugs are provided in
Table 9–15. Additional treatment considerations can be
found in Chapter 35. More complete information can be
obtained from the CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination website at https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/treatment/
default.htm or the WHO tuberculosis website at https://
www.who.int/health-topics/tuberculosis/.
B. Treatment of Tuberculosis Disease in
Persons Without HIV
Most patients with previously untreated pulmonary tuberculosis can be effectively treated with either a 4-, 6-, or
9-month regimen; in 2021 a 4-month regimen was added
as an appropriate treatment option for many patients with
drug-susceptible pulmonary TB, with certain limitations
based on side-effect profile. The 4-month regimen includes
8 weeks of daily treatment with rifapentine, moxifloxacin,
isoniazid, and pyrazinamide, followed by 9 weeks of daily
rifapentine, moxifloxacin, and isoniazid.
The initial phase of a 6-month regimen consists of
2 months of daily isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and
ethambutol. Once the isolate is determined to be sensitive
to isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide, ethambutol may
be discontinued. If the M tuberculosis isolate is susceptible
to isoniazid and rifampin, the second (continuation) phase
of therapy consists of isoniazid and rifampin for a minimum of 4 additional months, guided by sputum AFB cultures and initial chest imaging. If no fibrocavitary disease
was present on initial imaging and sputum AFB culture is
negative at 2 months, the sputum AFB should be repeated
at monthly intervals. If two consecutive negative cultures
are obtained by 4 months, treatment may be considered
completed at 6 months. If fibrocavitary disease is present
on initial imaging and sputum culture is negative at
2 months, the same applies, but some experts extend the
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total duration of therapy to 9 months, as tolerated. If the
sputum AFB culture remains positive at month 2 (irrespective of imaging at presentation), it should be repeated at
month 3. If negative at month 3 and again at month
4, treatment may be completed after a total of 6 months
(some experts extend to 9 months). If sputum AFB remains
positive at month 3, susceptibility testing should be
repeated, and if sputum AFB remains positive at month
4, this should be considered a treatment failure.
Patients who have contraindications to taking pyrazinamide (eg, pregnant persons; people with severe drug side
effects such as hepatotoxicity) should receive daily isoniazid and rifampin along with ethambutol for 2 months. If
susceptibility to isoniazid and rifampin is demonstrated or
drug resistance is unlikely, ethambutol can be discontinued, and isoniazid and rifampin may be given for a total of
9 months of therapy. If drug resistance is a concern,
patients should receive isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol for 9 months.
C. Treatment of Tuberculosis Disease in
Persons with HIV
Management of tuberculosis is complex in patients with
concomitant HIV disease. Experts in the management of
both tuberculosis and HIV disease should be involved in
the care of such patients. The CDC has published detailed
recommendations for the treatment of tuberculosis in
patients who test positive for HIV (https://www.cdc.gov/
tb/topic/treatment/tbhiv.htm).
The basic approach to patients with HIV who have
tuberculosis is similar to that detailed above for patients
without HIV. Additional considerations in patients who test
positive for HIV include (1) longer duration of therapy and
(2) drug interactions between rifamycin derivatives such as
rifampin and rifabutin used to treat tuberculosis and some
of the protease inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) used to treat HIV. DOT is
recommended for all patients with tuberculosis and HIV.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6), 25–50 mg orally each day, should
be given to all patients with HIV being treated with isoniazid
to reduce central and peripheral nervous system side effects.
D. Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Patients with drug-resistant M tuberculosis infection
require careful supervision and management. Clinicians
who are unfamiliar with the treatment of drug-resistant
tuberculosis should seek expert advice. Tuberculosis resistant only to isoniazid can be successfully treated with a
6-month regimen of rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol or streptomycin or a 12-month regimen of rifampin
and ethambutol. When isoniazid resistance is documented
during a 9-month regimen without pyrazinamide, isoniazid should be discontinued. If ethambutol was part of the
initial regimen, rifampin and ethambutol should be continued for a minimum of 12 months. If ethambutol was not
part of the initial regimen, susceptibility tests should be
repeated and two other medications to which the organism
is susceptible should be added. Treatment of M tuberculosis
isolates resistant to agents other than isoniazid and
treatment of drug resistance in patients with HIV require
expert consultation.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, pre-extensively drugresistant tuberculosis, and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis call for an individualized daily DOT plan under the
supervision of an experienced clinician. Treatment regimens are based on the patient’s overall status and the
results of susceptibility studies. In 2022, the WHO issued
guidelines outlining abbreviated all-oral treatment courses
for MDR-TB, with 6- or 9-month regimens including
bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin; in
2023, a regimen was approved using a longer course of
pretomanid, bedaquiline, and linezolid for MDR-TB resistant to fluoroquinolone.
E. Treatment of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
In most cases, regimens that are effective for treating pulmonary tuberculosis are also effective for treating extrapulmonary disease. However, many experts recommend
9–12 months of therapy when miliary, meningeal, or bone
and joint disease is present. Treatment of skeletal tuberculosis is enhanced by early surgical drainage and debridement of necrotic bone. Corticosteroid therapy has been
shown to help prevent constrictive pericarditis from
tuberculous pericarditis and to reduce neurologic complications from tuberculous meningitis (Chapter 35).
F. Treatment of Pregnant or Lactating Persons
Tuberculosis in pregnancy is usually treated with isoniazid,
rifampin, and ethambutol for 2 months, followed by isoniazid and rifampin for an additional 7 months. Ethambutol
can be stopped after the first month if isoniazid and
rifampin susceptibility is confirmed. Since the risk of teratogenicity with pyrazinamide has not been clearly defined,
pyrazinamide should be used only if resistance to other
drugs is documented and susceptibility to pyrazinamide is
likely. Streptomycin is contraindicated in pregnancy because
it may cause congenital deafness. Pregnant persons taking
isoniazid should receive pyridoxine (vitamin B6), 10–25 mg
orally once a day, to prevent peripheral neuropathy.
Small concentrations of antituberculous drugs are present in breast milk. First-line therapy is not known to be
harmful to nursing newborns at these concentrations.
Therefore, breastfeeding is not contraindicated while
receiving first-line antituberculous therapy. Lactating
women receiving other agents should consult a tuberculosis
expert.
G. Treatment Monitoring
Monthly follow-up of outpatients is recommended, including sputum smear and culture for M tuberculosis at
monthly intervals until cultures are negative on two consecutive samples. Patients with negative sputum cultures
after 2 months of treatment should have at least one additional sputum smear and culture performed at the end of
therapy. Patients with drug-resistant isolates should have
sputum cultures performed monthly during the entire
course of treatment. A CXR at the end of therapy provides
a useful baseline for any future comparison.
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Patients whose cultures do not become negative or
whose symptoms do not resolve despite 3 months of therapy
should be evaluated for nonadherence to the regimen and
for drug-resistant organisms. Positive sputum cultures after
4 months of therapy should be considered treatment failures,
and the addition of at least two drugs not previously given
should be considered pending repeat drug susceptibility
testing. The clinician should seek expert assistance if drug
resistance is newly found, if the patient remains symptomatic,
or if smears or cultures remain positive.
Patients with only a clinical diagnosis of pulmonary
tuberculosis (smears and cultures negative for M tuberculosis)
whose symptoms and radiographic abnormalities are
unchanged after 3 months of treatment usually either have
another process or have had tuberculosis in the past.
H. Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection
Treatment of latent tuberculous infection is essential to
controlling and eliminating tuberculosis and substantially
reduces the risk that infection will progress to active disease. Targeted testing with the tuberculin skin test or interferon gamma release assays is used to identify persons who
are at high risk for tuberculosis and benefit from treatment
of latent infection. Table 9–14 gives the tuberculin skin test
criteria for treatment of latent tuberculous infection. It is
essential that each person who meets the criteria for treatment of latent tuberculous infection undergo a careful
assessment to exclude active disease, including chest imaging. A history of past treatment for tuberculosis and contraindications to treatment should be sought. All patients
at risk for HIV infection should have an HIV test. Patients
suspected of having active tuberculosis disease should
receive one of the recommended multidrug regimens for
active disease until the diagnosis is confirmed or excluded.
Some close contacts of persons with active tuberculosis
should be evaluated for treatment of latent tuberculous
infection despite a negative tuberculin skin test reaction
(less than 5 mm of induration). These include immunosuppressed persons and those in whom disease may
develop quickly after tuberculous infection. Close contacts
who have a negative tuberculin skin test reaction on initial
testing should be retested 10–12 weeks later.
Several treatment regimens for persons with and without HIV are available for the treatment of latent tuberculous infection: (1) Isoniazid: a 9-month oral regimen
(minimum of 270 doses administered within 12 months) is
preferable to 6 months of therapy. Dosing options include
a daily dose of 5 mg/kg (maximum of 300 mg/day) or
twice-weekly doses of 15 mg/kg (maximum of 900 mg/
dose). Persons at risk for developing isoniazid-associated
peripheral neuropathy (those with diabetes mellitus, uremia, malnutrition, alcohol use disorder, HIV infection,
pregnancy, or seizure disorder) may be given supplemental
pyridoxine (vitamin B6), 10–50 mg/day. (2) Isoniazid and
rifampin: a 3-month oral regimen of daily isoniazid 5 mg/
kg (maximum 300 mg/day) and rifampin 10 mg/kg
(maximum 600 mg/dose). (3) Isoniazid and rifapentine: a
3-month oral regimen of once weekly isoniazid at 15 mg/
kg (maximum 900 mg/dose) and weight-based rifapentine.
(4) Rifampin: a 4-month oral regimen of rifampin at
10 mg/kg (maximum 600 mg/day). Patients with HIV
receiving protease inhibitors or NNRTIs who are given
rifampin or rifapentine require management by experts in
both tuberculosis and HIV disease (see Treatment of
Tuberculosis in Persons with HIV, above).
Contacts of persons with isoniazid-resistant, rifampinsensitive tuberculosis should receive a 2-month regimen of
rifampin and pyrazinamide or a 4-month regimen of daily
rifampin alone. Contacts of persons with drug-resistant
tuberculosis should receive two drugs to which the infecting organism has demonstrated susceptibility. Contacts
who are HIV seronegative in whom the tuberculin skin test
or interferon gamma release assay is negative may be
observed without treatment or treated for 6 months. Contacts with HIV should be treated for 12 months. All contacts of persons with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis or
extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis should have 2 years
of follow-up regardless of type of treatment.
Persons with a positive tuberculin skin test (5 mm or
more of induration) and fibrotic lesions suggestive of old
tuberculosis on CXRs who have no evidence of active disease and no history of treatment for tuberculosis should
receive 9 months of isoniazid or 4 months of rifampin
(with or without isoniazid). Pregnant or breastfeeding persons with latent tuberculosis should receive either daily or
twice-weekly isoniazid with pyridoxine.
Baseline laboratory testing is indicated for patients at
risk for liver disease, patients with HIV infection, persons
who are pregnant or within 3 months of delivery, and persons who use alcohol regularly. Patients receiving treatment for latent tuberculous infection should be evaluated
once a month to assess for symptoms and signs of active
tuberculosis and hepatitis and for adherence to their treatment regimen. Routine laboratory testing during treatment
is indicated for those with abnormal baseline laboratory
tests and for those at risk for developing liver disease.
BCG vaccine is an antimycobacterial vaccine developed
from an attenuated strain of M bovis. Millions of individuals
worldwide have been vaccinated with BCG. The vaccine is
not generally recommended in the United States because of
the low prevalence of tuberculous infection, the vaccine’s
interference with the ability to determine latent tuberculous
infection using tuberculin skin test reactivity, and its variable effectiveness in prophylaxis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Vaccination of health care workers should be considered on
an individual basis in settings in which a high percentage of
tuberculosis patients are infected with strains resistant to
both isoniazid and rifampin, in which transmission of such
drug-resistant M tuberculosis and subsequent infection are
likely, and in which comprehensive tuberculous infectioncontrol precautions have been implemented but have not
been successful. The BCG vaccine is contraindicated in
persons with impaired immune responses due to disease or
medications.
» Prognosis
Almost all properly treated immunocompetent patients
with tuberculosis can be cured. Relapse rates are less than
5% with current regimens. The main cause of treatment
failure is nonadherence to therapy.
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Acharya B et al. Advances in diagnosis of tuberculosis: an update
into molecular diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mol
Biol Rep. 2020;47:4065. [PMID: 32248381]
Bateson A et al. Bedaquiline-pretomanid-linezolid regimens for
drug-resistant tuberculosis. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:810.
[PMID: 36053506]
Zhang M et al. The diagnostic utility of pleural markers for
tuberculosis pleural effusion. Ann Transl Med. 2020;8:607.
[PMID: 32566633]
PULMONARY DISEASE CAUSED BY
NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIA
ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
»
Chronic cough, sputum production, and fatigue;
less commonly: malaise, dyspnea, fever, hemoptysis, and weight loss.
»
Parenchymal opacities on CXR, most often thinwalled cavities or multiple small nodules associated with bronchiectasis.
»
Isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria in a
sputum culture.
» General Considerations
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), sometimes referred
to as “atypical” mycobacteria—are ubiquitous in water and
soil. Marked geographic variability exists, both in NTM
species and in the prevalence of disease. These organisms
are not considered communicable from person to person,
although healthcare associated transmissions have
occurred in vulnerable patient groups (eg, cystic fibrosis).
NTM have distinct laboratory characteristics and are often
resistant to antituberculous medications (Chapter 35).
Long-term epidemiologic data suggest that NTM disease
has been increasing in the United States.
» Definition & Pathogenesis
The diagnosis of lung disease caused by NTM is based on
a combination of clinical, radiographic, and bacteriologic
criteria and the exclusion of other diseases that can resemble the condition. Specific diagnostic criteria are discussed
below. Complementary data are important for diagnosis
because NTM organisms can colonize the airways without
causing clinical disease.
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most frequent cause of NTM pulmonary disease in the United States.
M kansasii is the next most frequent pulmonary pathogen.
Other NTM causes of pulmonary disease include M abscessus, M xenopi, M chelonae, M. fortuitum, and M malmoense;
the list of more unusual etiologic NTM species is long.
Most NTM cause a chronic pulmonary infection that
resembles tuberculosis but tends to progress more slowly.
Disseminated disease is rare in immunocompetent persons; however, disseminated MAC disease is common in
patients with AIDS.
» Clinical Findings
A. Symptoms and Signs
NTM infection among immunocompetent persons frequently presents in one of three prototypical patterns: cavitary, upper lobe lesions in older male smokers that may
mimic M tuberculosis; nodular bronchiectasis affecting the
mid lung zones in middle-aged women with chronic cough;
and hypersensitivity pneumonitis following environmental
exposure. Most patients with NTM infection experience a
chronic cough, sputum production, and fatigue. Less common symptoms include malaise, dyspnea, fever, hemoptysis,
and weight loss. Symptoms from coexisting lung disease
(COPD, bronchiectasis, previous mycobacterial disease,
cystic fibrosis, and pneumoconiosis) may confound the
evaluation. In patients with bronchiectasis, coinfection with
NTM and Aspergillus is a negative prognostic factor. New or
worsening infiltrates as well as adenopathy or pleural effusion (or both) are described in patients with HIV and NTM
infection as part of the immune reconstitution inflammatory
syndrome following institution of antiretroviral therapy.
B. Laboratory Findings
The diagnosis of NTM infection rests on recovery of the
pathogen from cultures. Sputum cultures positive for atypical mycobacteria do not prove infection because NTM may
exist as saprophytes colonizing the airways or may be environmental contaminants. Bronchial washings are more
sensitive than expectorated sputum samples; however, their
specificity for clinical disease is not known.
Bacteriologic criteria have been proposed based on
studies of patients with cavitary disease with MAC or M
kansasii. Diagnostic criteria in immunocompetent persons
include the following: positive culture results from at least
two separate expectorated sputum samples; or positive
culture from at least one bronchial wash or biopsy; or a
positive culture from pleural fluid or any other normally
sterile site. The diagnosis can also be established by demonstrating NTM cultured from a lung biopsy, bronchial
wash, or sputum plus histopathologic changes, such as
granulomatous inflammation in a lung biopsy. Rapid species identification of some NTM is possible using NAAT or
a specialized mass spectrometry.
Diagnostic criteria are less stringent for patients with
severe immunosuppression. Patients with HIV may show significant MAC growth on culture of bronchial washings without clinical infection; therefore, patients with HIV being
evaluated for MAC infection must be considered individually.
Medication susceptibility testing on cultures of NTM is
recommended for the following NTM: (1) Mycobacterium
avium intracellulare to macrolides only (clarithromycin
and azithromycin); (2) M kansasii to rifampin; and (3)
rapid growers (such as M fortuitum, M chelonae, and M
abscessus) to amikacin, doxycycline, imipenem, fluoroquinolones, clarithromycin, cefoxitin, and sulfonamides.
C. Imaging
CXR findings include infiltrates that are progressive or
persist for at least 2 months, cavitary lesions, and multiple
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CHAPTER 9
nodular densities. The cavities are often thin-walled and
have less surrounding parenchymal infiltrate than is commonly seen with MTB infections. Evidence of contiguous
spread and pleural involvement is often present. HRCT of
the chest may show multiple small nodules with or without multifocal bronchiectasis. Progression of pulmonary
infiltrates during therapy or lack of radiographic improvement over time are poor prognostic signs and also raise
concerns about secondary or alternative pulmonary processes. Clearing of pulmonary infiltrates due to NTM is
sl ow.
» Treatment
NTM infection does not mandate treatment in all cases,
for two reasons. First, clinical disease may never develop
in some patients, particularly asymptomatic patients
with few organisms isolated from single specimens. Second, the spectrum of clinical disease severity is very
wide; in patients with mild or slowly progressive symptoms, traditional antimicrobial regimens using a combination of agents may lead to drug-induced side effects
worse than the disease itself. These features at least partly
explain variability of adherence to treatment guidelines in
practice.
Specific treatment regimens and responses to therapy
vary with the species of NTM. HIV-seronegative patients
with MAC pulmonary disease usually receive a combination of daily clarithromycin or azithromycin, rifampin or
rifabutin, and ethambutol. For patients with severe fibrocavitary disease, streptomycin or amikacin is added for the
first 2 months. The optimal duration of treatment is
unknown, but therapy should be continued for 12 months
after sputum conversion. Medical treatment is initially successful in about two-thirds of cases, but relapses after treatment are common; long-term benefit is demonstrated in
about half of all patients. Those who do not respond favorably generally have active but stable disease. Surgical resection is an alternative for the patient with progressive
disease that responds poorly to antimicrobials. Disease
caused by M kansasii responds well to drug therapy. A daily
regimen of rifampin, isoniazid, and ethambutol for at least
18 months with a minimum of 12 months of negative cultures is usually successful. Rapidly growing mycobacteria
(M abscessus, M fortuitum, M chelonae) are generally resistant to standard antituberculous therapy.
Treatment recommendations for less common NTM
(including M chelonae, M fortuitum, M genavense, M gordonae,
M malmoense, M simiae, and M szulgai), based primarily on
case reports and case series, were published in 2022; expert
consultation should be sought to determine need for
treatment.
» When to Refer
Patients with rapidly growing mycobacteria or uncommon
NTM should be referred for expert management.
Abate G et al. Variability in the management of adults with pul-
monary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. Clin Infect
Dis. 2021;72:1127. [PMID: 32198521]
Daley CL et al. Treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial
pulmonary disease: official ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA clinical
practice guideline. Eur Respir J. 2020;56:2000535. [PMID:
32636299]
Lange C et al. Consensus management recommendations for less
common non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases.
Lancet Infect Dis. 2022;22:e178. [PMID: 35090639]
º
PULMONARY NEOPLASMS
See Chapter 41 for discussions of Lung Cancer, Secondary
Lung Cancer, and Mesothelioma.
SCREENING FOR LUNG CANCER
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related
mortality, in large part secondary to advanced stage at
diagnosis (Chapter 41). Annual low-dose CT (LDCT)
screening is recommended for those at high risk by multiple organizations, including the USPSTF, the American
Cancer Society, the American College of Chest Physicians,
and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Highrisk criteria include age 50–80 years, at least a 20-pack-year
smoking history, and either current smoking or quit date
within past 15 years. Screening should be stopped once
15 years have elapsed since quitting smoking or if a comorbid condition renders the benefits of screening null. Simulation models have found yearly screening using these
parameters to be the most efficient in reducing lung
cancer–related deaths, though more false-positive test
results are expected.
Annual CXRs are not recommended for lung cancer
screening in current or former smokers as no mortality
benefit has been demonstrated with serial exams in two
large RCTs: the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian
Randomized Trial (PLCO) and the National Lung Cancer
Screening Trial (NLST). The NLST enrolled 53,454 current
or former smokers who were randomly assigned to three
annual posterior-anterior CXRs or three LDCT scans and
monitored for an additional 6.5 years. Compared with
CXR, LDCT detected more early-stage lung cancers and
fewer advanced-stage lung cancers, indicating that LDCT
screening systematically shifted the time of diagnosis to
earlier stages, thereby providing more persons the opportunity for effective treatment. Furthermore, the cohort that
received three annual LDCT scans had a significant mortality benefit, with reductions in both lung cancer deaths
(20.0%) and all-cause mortality (6.7%).
Potential harms of LDCT screening include false positive findings, overdiagnosis, radiation, and anxiety and
patient distress which ought to be discussed prior to
patient’s referral for screening. Other issues that remain of
concern include (1) Generalizability to practice: NLSTparticipating institutions demonstrated a high level of
expertise in imaging interpretation and diagnostic evaluation. Ninety-six percent of findings on CT were false positives but the vast majority of patients were monitored with
serial imaging. Invasive diagnostic evaluations were
uncommon and were associated with a low complication
rate (1.4%). (2) Duration of screening: The rate of
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detection of new lung cancers did not fall with subsequent
annual screening over the 3-year trial. Since new lung
cancers become detectable during each year-long screening interval, the optimal number of annual CT scans is
unknown as is the optimal screening interval. (3) Overdi-
agnosis: After 6.4 years of post-screening observation,
there were more lung cancers in the NLST CT cohort than
the CXR cohort (1089 and 969, respectively). Since the
groups were randomized and well matched, lung cancer
incidence should have been identical. Therefore, 18.5% of
the lung cancers detected by CT remained clinically silent
and invisible on CXR for 6.4 years. Many, perhaps most, of
these lung cancers would never cause clinical disease and
represent overdiagnosis. (4) Cost effectiveness: Studies in
the United States, Canada, and Europe suggest screening
for lung cancer is cost effective; however, whether it is cost
effective in all countries has not been determined. All
patients participating in a screening program who still
smoke should receive smoking cessation interventions.
Adams SJ et al. Lung cancer screening. Lancet. 2023;401:390.
[PMID: 36563698]
Becker N et al. Lung cancer mortality reduction by LDCT
screening–results from the randomized German LUSI trial.
Int J Cancer. 2020;146:1503. [PMID: 31162856]
de Koning HJ et al. Reduced lung-cancer mortality with volume
CT screening in a randomized trial. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:
503. [PMID: 31995683]
Krist AH et al. Screening for lung cancer: US Preventive Services
Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325:962.
[PMID: 33687470]
Leiter A et al. The global burden of lung cancer: current status
and future trends. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2023;20:624. [PMID:
37479810]
Sadate A et al. Systemic review and meta-analysis on the impact
of lung cancer screening by low-dose computed tomography.
Eur J Cancer. 2020;134:107. [PMID: 32502939]
SOLITARY PULMONARY NODULE
A solitary pulmonary nodule, sometimes referred to as a
“coin lesion,” is a less-than-3-cm isolated, rounded opacity
on chest imaging outlined by normal lung. Pulmonary
nodules may be solid or subsolid with ground glass or
mixed consistency. Most are asymptomatic and represent
an incidental finding on CXR or CT scanning. Solitary
nodules may be benign or malignant; the risk of malignancy varies depending on the patient population under
study. Most benign nodules are infectious granulomas.
Benign neoplasms, such as hamartomas, account for less
than 5% of solitary nodules. The probability of cancer in
pulmonary nodules detected by LDCT is estimated at 1%
of nodules. Malignant nodules are rare in persons under
age 30. Above age 30, the likelihood of malignancy
increases with age and smoking history. Patients with a
prior malignancy have a higher likelihood of having a
malignant solitary nodule.
The goals of evaluation are to identify and resect malignant tumors in patients who will benefit from resection
while avoiding invasive procedures in benign disease. The
task is to identify nodules with a sufficiently high
probability of malignancy to warrant biopsy or resection or
a sufficiently low probability of malignancy to justify
observation.
Clinical and imaging data can be used to assess the
probability of malignancy. Comparison of prior and current imaging studies allows estimation of doubling time,
which is an important marker for malignancy. Rapid progression (doubling time less than 30 days) suggests infection, while long-term stability (doubling time greater than
465 days) suggests benignity. Radiographic features including size help in estimating the probability of malignancy.
Chest CT is indicated for any suspicious solitary pulmonary nodule. Solitary nodules identified by CT scan
showed a 1% malignancy rate in those measuring 2–5 mm,
24% in 6–10 mm, 33% in 11–20 mm, and 80% in 21–45 mm
nodules. The appearance of a smooth, well-defined edge is
characteristic of a benign process. Ill-defined margins or a
lobular appearance suggest malignancy. A HRCT finding
of spiculated margins and a peripheral halo are both highly
associated with malignancy. Calcification and its pattern
are also helpful clues. Benign lesions tend to have dense
calcification in a central or laminated pattern. Malignant
lesions are associated with sparser calcification that is typically stippled or eccentric. Cavitary lesions with thick
(greater than 16 mm) walls are more likely to be malignant.
HRCT offers better resolution of these characteristics than
CXR and is more likely to detect lymphadenopathy or the
presence of multiple lesions.
» Treatment
Based on clinical and radiologic data, the clinician should
assign a specific probability of malignancy to the lesion.
The decision whether to recommend a biopsy or surgical
excision depends on the interpretation of this probability
in light of the patient’s clinical situation. Quantitative prediction models (Brock model, VA Cooperative model) are
available to assess risk of malignancy. The probabilities in
parentheses below represent guidelines only and should
not be interpreted as definitive.
In the case of solitary pulmonary nodules, a continuous
probability function may be grouped into three categories.
In patients with a low probability (less than 5%) of malig-
nancy (eg, age under 30, lesions stable for more than
2 years, characteristic pattern of benign calcification),
watchful waiting is appropriate. Management consists of
serial imaging studies at intervals that could identify
growth suggestive of malignancy. Three-dimensional
reconstruction of HRCT images provides a more sensitive
test for growth.
Patients with a high probability (greater than 60%) of
malignancy should proceed directly to resection following
staging, provided the surgical risk is acceptable. Biopsies
rarely yield a specific benign diagnosis and are not
indicated.
Optimal management of patients with an intermediate
probability of malignancy (5–60%) remains controversial. The traditional approach is to obtain a diagnostic
biopsy, either through bronchoscopy or transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA). Bronchoscopy yields a diagnosis in