🔬 What is the Test?
The Acid Fast Susceptibility - 10 Drugs, BACTEC Test is used to determine whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB bacteria) is resistant or susceptible to 10 anti-TB drugs. It helps in detecting Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB). The test is conducted using the BACTEC MGIT (Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube) system, a rapid liquid culture method that provides faster and more accurate results compared to traditional solid media like Löwenstein-Jensen (L-J).
📊 Normal Ranges:
Susceptible (S): No bacterial growth in the presence of the drug → The drug is effective.
Resistant (R): Bacteria continue to grow despite the drug → The drug is ineffective.
🩺 Purpose of the Test:
✅ Detects drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) early
✅ Guides doctors in selecting effective TB medications
✅ Helps identify MDR-TB and XDR-TB cases
✅ Provides faster results than traditional TB culture methods
🧪 When is it Recommended?
🔹 For TB patients not responding to standard treatment
🔹 To confirm suspected drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB, XDR-TB)
🔹 For individuals previously treated for TB with potential resistance
🔹 To guide treatment choices in high-risk patients
📝 How is the Test Done?
1️⃣ A sputum or other body fluid sample is collected.
2️⃣ The sample is cultured in the BACTEC MGIT system (liquid media).
3️⃣ Bacteria are exposed to 10 different anti-TB drugs.
4️⃣ Growth (R) or no growth (S) determines drug susceptibility.
🧑‍⚕️ 10 Drugs Tested in This Panel:
1️⃣ Isoniazid (INH)
2️⃣ Rifampicin (RIF)
3️⃣ Ethambutol (EMB)
4️⃣ Pyrazinamide (PZA)
5️⃣ Streptomycin (SM)
6️⃣ Amikacin (AMK)
7️⃣ Kanamycin (KAN)
8️⃣ Capreomycin (CAP)
9️⃣ Ofloxacin (OFX)
🔟 Levofloxacin (LFX)
⚠️ What Do Abnormal Results Mean?
📈 Resistance to 1 or more drugs:
Some antibiotics will not work, requiring alternative treatments.
📈 Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB):
Resistance to Rifampicin & Isoniazid, making first-line treatment ineffective.
📈 Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB):
Resistance to Rifampicin, Isoniazid, fluoroquinolones, and injectable second-line drugs.
📌 Infographic Design Ideas:
✔ Medical color scheme (blue, green, white, and red for resistance warnings)
✔ Illustration of TB bacteria and the BACTEC MGIT culture process
✔ Table listing the 10 drugs tested with possible results (S/R)
✔ Comparison of BACTEC MGIT vs. traditional L-J method (faster detection time)