Re-emergence of tuberculosis and its variants: implications for dentistry

Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest scourges of mankind and, overall, one third of the global population is infected with this mycobacterium or its variants. The advent of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic has accelerated its spread inexorably whilst the multi-drug resistant strains of the bacillus have hampered disease management. Given the alarming spread of the disease, there appears to be a significant potential for occupationally acquired tuberculous infection amongst health care workers, including dental care workers. This review addresses the basic microbiology and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, its oral manifestations, mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT), multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), management including aspects of the global programme on tuberculosis (DOTS programme), the potential for occupationally acquiring the disease and finally, the infection control measures that are available for dental and other health care workers.