Viability and Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity of Tubercle Bacilli Isolated from Pulmonary and Other Lesions in Embalmed Bodies at Autopsy. Case Report and Clinico-Pathologic Correlation of Cases Studied to Date

1) Caseous and fibrocaseous tuberculosis may contain viable tubercle bacilli in large numbers prior to and after a short embalming period. Pathologists, observers and other personnel handling these materials should adhere to safety measures in order to prevent accidental infections. 2) Chemotherapeutic sensitivity results in tuberculosis may vary in the same individual depending upon the type of lesion and source from which the tubercle organisms are obtained as shown in our data by the sputa and autopsy materials studied.