Sepsis and septic shock associated with tuberculosis “Landouzy's tifobacilosis”: A dark and unpredictable enemy – From pathophysiology to clinical implications

Abstract

Sepsis and septic shock associated with tuberculosis are such critical diseases that are life-threatening to the patient. TB bacteremia has been associated with sepsis and septic shock, especially in immunosuppressed patients with high mortality. In this sense, it has been seen that 1 in 4 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hospitalized for sepsis had TB bacteremia. Acute forms of tuberculosis can progress in severity and between 1 and 3% of cases require an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and high mortality. Given this scenario, the authors consider it pertinent to carry out this Review article, which allows a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to this acute form of TB to provide key aspects of the disease that are decisive in saving the lives of patients in critical condition.