The Disease Mycobacterium tuberculosis an acid-fast, nonmotile, nonsporulating, weakly gram positive rod. Mycoloic acid is a major component that is characteristic of Mycobacteria.
Some drugs act by interfering with mycolic acid synthesis.
Slow growth , ability to survive within phagocytes, and resistance to chemical disinfectants are important factors to consider. Body defenses are crucial for resistance. TB incidence is increasing as diseases and life styles harmful to body defense systems increase. Organisms undergo another 1-2 divisions before growth is arrested. The drug appears to be taken up by an active process and only sensitive organisms contain significant quantities of drug.