From the Guidelines
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the primary strain causing genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) in humans. This is the same bacterium responsible for pulmonary tuberculosis, which can spread through the bloodstream from the lungs to infect the kidneys, urinary tract, and genital organs. According to the official American Thoracic Society/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines 1, a positive urine culture for M. tuberculosis is a component of the diagnostic assessment of genitourinary tuberculosis. Some key points to consider in the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary TB include:
- A positive urine culture for M. tuberculosis can also be seen in tuberculosis patients with advanced HIV infection, reflecting disseminated disease and/or occult genitourinary tract involvement 1
- Genitourinary TB typically develops as a secondary infection, occurring when the bacteria spread hematogenously from a primary infection site, usually the lungs, to the genitourinary system
- The kidneys are most commonly affected first, with infection potentially extending to the ureters, bladder, and genital organs
- Treatment for genitourinary TB follows standard TB treatment protocols, typically involving a multi-drug regimen including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide for 2 months, followed by isoniazid and rifampin for an additional 4 months, for a total treatment duration of 6 months 1
- Surgical intervention may be necessary in cases with severe structural damage or complications, such as ureteral obstruction, hydronephrosis, and progressive renal insufficiency due to obstruction 1
From the Research
Strains of Mycobacterium Causing Genito-Urinary TB in Humans
- There are no research papers provided that directly answer the question of which strains of Mycobacterium cause genito-urinary TB in humans.
- The provided studies focus on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, drug susceptibility testing, and molecular diagnostic testing, but do not specifically address genito-urinary TB 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- These studies discuss the mechanisms of action and resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to various drugs, as well as the utility and limitations of different drug susceptibility testing methods 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, they do not provide information on the specific strains of Mycobacterium that cause genito-urinary TB in humans.