Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Reactivation and Coinfections

Abstract

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), greatly affects the health systems and socioeconomic parameters. Post pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 might activate dormant bacterial infections like Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the long term. The mechanism of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation is still not clear, but it is thought that in healthy individuals, a strong immune response can form granulomatous lesion and prevents the development of active TB, while, in patients with dysregulated immune systems, TB reactivation occurs. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge about the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and TB as an unwavering health hazard.