Tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), Containment Equipment & Laboratories

By Brian Garrett, LEED Green Associate, Product Specialist, Labconco Corporation

The respiratory infectious disease once known as ‘consumption’ is an infection caused by the bacterial complex tubercle bacilli — TB (tuberculosis forming members of the genus Mycobacterium). Highly contagious with an infective dose of less than 10 bacilli, over 20 million cases of Tuberculoses are estimated world-wide. This represents fewer than 10% of the total TB carriers. (National Institute of Health, 2009)

There were hopes to eradicate tuberculosis; however, drug resistant strains began to show up in the 1980’s giving rise to a new ‘tier’ of TB, Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB). (World Health Organization, 2007) Representing a greater threat and risk level, (MDR) TB is listed in the (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2009). Section 8 of this document is dedicated to ‘Agent Summary Statements’, where the CDC outlines the general characteristics of the pathogen and its biosafety and biosecurity¹ recommendations.