Tuberculosis Consultant Services

This patient with tuberculosis of the spine and a visible abscess, slightly discoloring the overlaying skin, on the lower left back almost escaped a correct diagnosis but for an astute laboratory technician. The abscess was warm to the touch and a Gram stain showed Gram-positive cocci. Nevertheless, the  laboratory technician insisted on rigorous examination for acid-fast bacilli and found them, confirming tuberculosis of the spine with a super-infected abscess.