MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -This means the treatment is working. A positive AFB culture several weeks after medicine treatment has started may mean the antibiotic is not working and needs to be changed. It also means you are still likely to be infectious and can pass the infection to others through coughing or sneezing.

Detailed explanation-2: -If your AFB smear was positive, it means you probably have TB or other infection, but an AFB culture is needed confirm the diagnosis. Culture results can take several weeks, so your provider may decide to treat your infection in the meantime.

Detailed explanation-3: -Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive sputum is usually an initial clue in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB); however, the test is not disease-specific.

Detailed explanation-4: -A positive TB skin test or TB blood test only tells that a person has been infected with TB bacteria. It does not tell whether the person has latent TB infection (LTBI) or has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.