tubercle bacillus

noun

1. the bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causing tuberculosis.

tubercle bacillus

noun

1. a rodlike Gram-positive bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , that causes tuberculosis: family Mycobacteriaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of tubercle bacillus¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

There are a number of bacilli, called acid-fast bacilli, which stain in the same way as the tubercle bacillus.

From Project Gutenberg

Ordinarily, no attempt is made to identify any but the tubercle bacillus and the gonococcus.

From Project Gutenberg

This will show all bacteria except the tubercle bacillus, and often no other stain is necessary for their identification.

From Project Gutenberg

In tuberculous disease the tubercle bacillus is present in the discharge, but its detection offers some difficulties.

From Project Gutenberg

Very few human beings entirely escape infection from the tubercle bacillus at some time in life.

From Project Gutenberg