Afb Isolation Rapid Culture Ascitic Fluid

A microbiological culture, or microbial culture, is a method of multiplying microbial organisms by letting them reproduce in predetermined culture media under controlled laboratory conditions. Microbial cultures are used to determine the type of organism, its abundance in the sample being tested, or both. Recommendations for isolating potentially infectious tuberculosis (TB) patients differ depending on sputum smear results; level of clinical suspicion; drug sensitivity of the organism; type of setting; and the age, immune status and exposure status of household members. Acid-Fast Bacilli Smear with Culture Sensitivity is meant to detect, grow, isolate, identify, and then test, the sensitivity to antibiotics of acid-fast bacilli (AFB). AFB are a group of rod-shaped bacteria; the most common and clinically important of which, belong to the genus mycobacterium. AFB bacteria types, when smeared on a slide and processed with special acid-fast staining methods, is visible under a microscope. Some of the species of mycobacteria, which causes infections in humans, are: Mycobacterium tuberculosis: It is one of the most common and infectious mycobacteria that causes tuberculosis. It causes lung infection in the immunocompromised individuals, like the elderly adults, patients on immunosuppressive drugs, HIV patients, etc. The infection is difficult to treat, due to antibiotic resistance. The significance of Acid-Fast Bacilli Smear with Culture Sensitivity is explained below: A positive AFB smear test result is an indication that the patient may have a mycobacterial infection. However, the test result only provides a presumptive diagnosis, and in order to confirm the diagnosis, a culture must be performed. AFB culture is the definitive way to diagnose the type of mycobacteria. Mycobacterium grows very slowly and it usually takes several days to weeks, to detect any growth, and to identify the particular type. Negative results are confirmed only after there is no growth on the testing culture plates for 6-8 weeks. Positive AFB cultures are supplemented by sensitivity testing, to help the healthcare provider treat the condition with appropriate antibiotics. Hence, sensitivity testing for AFB is very important. A negative culture report indicates the absence of a mycobacterium infection, or it may simply mean that the collected specimen did not have any mycobacteria present in it. Again, multiple samples are collected, to increase the probability of a test result. Culture reports are also requested at regular intervals after the start of treatment, to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. This also helps in understanding, if the treatment needs to be changed, modified, or stopped. Sometimes, an individual may develop drug-resistant tuberculosis. Sensitivity testing will help diagnose a drug-resistant tuberculosis. A negative AFB culture report (during the treatment course) does not indicate a cure. It simply means that the individual is no longer infectious (spreading infection). The individual may still have mycobacteria in his body and is not fully cured. This is called latent tuberculosis. Antibiotics may have to be continued for some more weeks, after negative culture reports, in order to achieve a full cure.