Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains dormant and walled off in tubercles for life, but may be reactivated if a person's immune system is impaired.

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Neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages seal off the colonies of bacilli, forming a granulomatous lesion called a tubercle. Once the bacilli are isolated in tubercles and immunity develops, tuberculosis may remain dormant for life. If the immune system is impaired, however, or if live bacilli escape into the bronchi, active disease occurs and may spread through the blood and lymphatics to other organs.

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Remains Dormant and Walled Off in Tubercles for Life