Which of the following is TRUE regarding globi in a patient with lepromatous leprosy?
High-Yield Explanation
Acid fast mycobacterium leprae bacilli may lie extracellularly and intracellularly in large undifferentiated histiocytes known as virchow's lepra cells or foamy cells. These bacilli are bounded together by lipid like substances the glia forming masses known as Globi. Because of abundant bacteria lepromatous leprosy is referred to as multibacillary. Ref: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18th Edition, Chapter 166