MTB, when referring to Tuberculosis (TB), stands for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Explained
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. It's a slow-growing, aerobic bacterium that primarily infects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body.
TB and MTB Relationship
Tuberculosis (TB) is the disease, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the specific bacterium that causes that disease. Therefore, understanding the role of MTB is crucial in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of TB.