🦠 What is the Test?
The AFB (Acid-Fast Bacilli) Sensitivity Test for Rifampicin determines whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB bacteria) is resistant or susceptible to rifampicin, a key first-line antibiotic used in TB treatment.
📊 Normal Ranges:
Susceptible (S) → TB bacteria respond to rifampicin (effective treatment).
Resistant (R) → TB bacteria do not respond to rifampicin (alternative treatment needed).
Intermediate (I) → Partial response; may require dose adjustment or alternative drugs.
(Results vary based on laboratory methods.)
🎯 Purpose of the Test:
✅ Detects rifampicin resistance, a key marker for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
✅ Helps in selecting the right antibiotics for TB treatment
✅ Prevents antibiotic resistance by avoiding ineffective medications
✅ Assists in early detection of drug-resistant TB
🩺 When is it Recommended?
🔹 Patients newly diagnosed with TB
🔹 Individuals not responding to standard TB treatment
🔹 People at risk for drug-resistant TB (previous TB treatment, exposure to MDR-TB cases)
🔹 To tailor TB therapy based on drug susceptibility
📝 How is the Test Done?
A sputum, tissue, or fluid sample is collected.
The bacteria are cultured and tested for rifampicin resistance.
Results may take a few days to weeks, depending on the method used.
⚠️ What Do Abnormal Results Mean?
📉 Susceptible (S) → Rifampicin can be used in TB treatment.
📈 Resistant (R) → Alternative TB drugs or combination therapy required.
🔍 Infographic Design Idea:
Red and blue medical-themed colors
TB bacteria illustration with an antibiotic resistance chart
Simple table for result interpretation (S, R, I)