🔬 What is the Test?
The Acid Fast Susceptibility - 5 Drugs, BACTEC Test is used to determine whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB bacteria) is resistant or susceptible to five key anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs. This test is conducted using the BACTEC MGIT (Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube) system, an advanced liquid culture method that provides faster and more sensitive 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 resistance in tuberculosis (TB)
✅ Guides doctors in selecting the best TB treatment
✅ Identifies Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases early
✅ Faster diagnosis compared to traditional culture methods
🧪 When is it Recommended?
🔹 For TB patients who do not respond to standard treatment
🔹 If there is suspicion of drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)
🔹 To determine effective antibiotics for TB treatment
🔹 In patients with a history of TB treatment failure
📝 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 5 different anti-TB drugs.
4️⃣ Results show whether the TB bacteria are resistant (R) or susceptible (S) to each drug.
🧑‍⚕️ 5 Drugs Tested in This Panel:
1️⃣ Isoniazid (INH)
2️⃣ Rifampicin (RIF)
3️⃣ Ethambutol (EMB)
4️⃣ Streptomycin (SM)
5️⃣ Pyrazinamide (PZA)
⚠️ What Do Abnormal Results Mean?
📈 Resistance to 1 or more drugs:
The TB strain is not responding to the drug and requires an alternative treatment.
📈 Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB):
Resistance to Rifampicin & Isoniazid (first-line drugs), making standard treatment ineffective.
📈 Possible progression to Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB):
If additional resistance to fluoroquinolones & injectable second-line drugs is detected.
📌 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 5 drugs tested with possible results (S/R)
✔ Comparison between the traditional L-J method and the faster BACTEC method