TB – the treatable killer
Today marks World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, a public awareness campaign to highlight that this serious infection is still an epidemic in many parts of the world.
TB is a contagious bacterial infection that is spread from person to person by inhaling tiny droplets in coughs and sneezes of infected people. Globally, 9 million people develop TB each year and nearly 1.5 million people die of the disease.
Viapath provide diagnostic laboratory testing for TB from our Infection Sciences Department which operates across three of our sites. Our comprehensive diagnostic approach helps clinicians to “Find. Treat. Cure TB.”
Figures from the Stop TB Partnership estimate that, globally approximately 2 billion people are infected with the TB bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) sitting latent in their bodies.
The most affected parts of the world include Africa, south-east Asia, Russia, China and Western Pacific countries such as Vietnam. People who are malnourished, homeless or suffer with HIV/AIDS are at an increased risk of falling ill with the infection.
TB mainly affects the lungs, however it can affect any part of the body, commonly the glands bones and the central nervous system. Typical symptoms include:
• Persistent cough (3 weeks or more) often with phlegm or blood
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Night Sweats
• High temperature (fever)
• Tiredness/fatigue
• New swellings that last for a number of weeks
Since the inception of antibiotics, TB has gone from being a major health problem to being a much less common in the UK with 8,000 confirmed cases in 2013. Cases of TB in the UK over the last 10 years have remained high but stable, with even a small decline in the last couple of years.
Tackling TB
Our TB testing takes place at St. Thomas’, Kings and Bedford Hospitals, however due to an exciting lab refurbishment in our Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory at St Thomas’, this TB testing has moved to Viapath Microbiology at Bedford Hospital.
We offer a comprehensive diagnostic service, utilising a number of techniques to ensure that accurate and timely results are delivered to clinicians with clear interpretations to enable the most effective treatments to be administered.
We use a combination of fluorescent microscopy, TB PCR and sample analysis using a Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT). We also send all positive samples for further identification and sensitivity testing to a Mycobacteria Reference Unit to ensure we provide a high quality service and interpretation for patients and clinicians.
TB is a particularly stubborn bacterial strain, with advanced cases requiring treatments spanning up to two years. Better and more accurate diagnoses such as the service delivered by Viapath, are contributing to quicker resulting and more targeted treatments to improve care for patients and relieve pressure on NHS resources.
Our expert Infection Sciences Department has a wide-ranging portfolio of diagnostic bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology tests, including a comprehensive molecular repertoire offering qualitative and quantitative PCR, real time PCR and pathogen genotyping that is fully responsive to the ever changing needs of our clinical colleagues.
These laboratories perform hundreds of thousands of routine and specialist investigations annually, providing a fully integrated, consultant-led service benefiting patients in Bedford, London and beyond.
Further information
Viapath Infection Sciences Department
