[Histonet] M.tuberculosis in formalin-fixed tissue[Scanned]

[Kemlo Rogerson]

No-one replied to this yet? No?

Ok. TB lives (hibernates) in bone, that's why, in the old days people were
sent to Sanatoriums. They recovered from their TB, by good diet etc., but
when they were released and their diet/ health got worse, the bone
de-ossified and the TB was released; they then suffered a relapse.

I assume that can happen in lung etc., as the TB may be encapsulated in
areas of bony spiculues (can't spell that) it is shielded from the fixative.
I assume staining, cutting, etc., can release the bacteria from its bony
coffin to make the sections infective.

I would assume the risk is low, but there all the same. There is an
'explosion' of TB in London, I gather from the News today.

Kemlo Rogerson
Cellular Pathology Manager
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
DD. 01254-294162
Mobile 0774-9754194
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Therersa Stegall [mailto:STEGTM <@t> samcstl.org] 
Sent: 02 December 2004 17:07
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] M.tuberculosis in formalin-fixed tissue[Scanned]

Say y'all.  I have a copy of CAP Today in front of me, last months'. 
There's an article on pg118 that says somewhere around 10% of cultured
lung tissue, fixed in formalin, grew M.tuberculosis.  We all assume the
risk when cutting frozens, and the subsequent decontamination
procedures; has anyone really thought about this?  Have you heard
anything else about such?  Does anyone out there assume that this fixed
tissue is still viable (we assume that it is a mere capsular ghost of
itself).  I'd be interested to hear how you deal with this type of
tissue; precautions or not...... Terre

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