Once the droplets enter the lungs they deposit in the mid lower lung zones on the surface of the alveoli
Now begins the immunologic process (the bodies defense mechanism)
Once at the alveoli level the tubercle bacilli begin to be phagocytized by the macrophage cells
In a patient with an intact immune system they are able to kill the bacillus, decreasing the chance of infection
If a more virulent bacillus is present, the macrophage may not be able to destroy the bacillus leading to infection
In the impaired host, the macrophage cells are unable to kill the bacillus
Now the tubercle bacilli begins to replicate within the macrophage
This process continues until the macrophage breaks apart[5]
Alila Medical Images/Shutterstock.com
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