Which statement describes a surgical indication for tuberculosis?

Which statement describes a surgical indication for tuberculosis?

• A. Failure of antibiotics
• B. Positive tuberculin test alone
• C. Asymptomatic with normal imaging
• D. Response to therapy within 2 weeks

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that surgery for tuberculosis is an adjunct option used when medical therapy cannot control the disease or when complications arise that surgery can fix. The best statement reflects that surgical intervention is reserved for situations where anti-tuberculous antibiotics fail to resolve the illness or its local complications. When antibiotics fail to control tuberculosis, local disease may persist or progress despite appropriate drug therapy. In such cases, removing the infected tissue or affected lung segment can achieve cure, prevent ongoing infection, and address complications like cavity disease or localized destruction. This is why “failure of antibiotics” is the correct description of a surgical indication. In contrast, a positive tuberculin test alone doesn’t indicate active, operable disease—it reflects exposure and possibly latent infection. Being asymptomatic with normal imaging shows no active disease to operate on. A good therapeutic response within two weeks also argues against the need for surgery, since the drugs are working and surgery isn’t required to accelerate recovery.

The main idea here is that surgery for tuberculosis is an adjunct option used when medical therapy cannot control the disease or when complications arise that surgery can fix. The best statement reflects that surgical intervention is reserved for situations where anti-tuberculous antibiotics fail to resolve the illness or its local complications.

When antibiotics fail to control tuberculosis, local disease may persist or progress despite appropriate drug therapy. In such cases, removing the infected tissue or affected lung segment can achieve cure, prevent ongoing infection, and address complications like cavity disease or localized destruction. This is why “failure of antibiotics” is the correct description of a surgical indication.

In contrast, a positive tuberculin test alone doesn’t indicate active, operable disease—it reflects exposure and possibly latent infection. Being asymptomatic with normal imaging shows no active disease to operate on. A good therapeutic response within two weeks also argues against the need for surgery, since the drugs are working and surgery isn’t required to accelerate recovery.