MORPHOLOGIC PROFILE OF ACID –FAST MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS BACTERIA IN PATIENT UNDERGOING FOUR MONTHS TREATMENT

Tuberculosis disease (TB) is a disease that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Generally this bacteria is in perfect bar form, but sputum examination often indicates this bacteria is in uncommon form. The purpose of this study is to examine the differences of Mycobacterium tuberculosis morphology in patients’ sputum  every week for two months treatment.  This research used quantitative type with observational (non-experimental) research plan with time series analysis. Subjects for this research were five TB patients with positive acid resistance bacteria observed from a sputum sample every week until eight week after by measuring the average of bacteria size and counting the percentage of bacteria degeneration. The size of the bacteria continued to decrease with increasing treatment time each week. The size is reduced from 0.19 m - 0.49 m. The cell size decreased by an average of 46% with the smallest decrease at week 2 by 4% and the largest decrease at week six by 61%, before finally not being detected again at week eight. Patients with tuberculosis experienced a conversion or change from smear positive to smear negative after two months of treatment at the intensive stage. Bacterial cell damage was from week to week, increased by an average of 29% per week until finally negative at week 8 or two months after treatment. The highest level of damage occurred in the second week of 53%, and the lowest occurred in the sixth week of 15%, before finally 100% damage in the eighth week. The conclusion of this study is that the size of Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed changes with the time of intensive treatment with the size reduced from 0.19 µm - 0.49 µm. The cell size was reduced by an average of 46%. Bacterial cell damage is from week to week with an average of 29% per week.