Clofazimine AFB Sensitivity

Clofazimine is an antibiotic medication that is primarily used to treat leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It is also sometimes used to treat other mycobacterial infections, such as tuberculosis.

Clofazimine has been shown to be effective against atypical mycobacteria, which are mycobacterial species that are not susceptible to many other antibiotics. However, it is not typically used to treat infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

AFB sensitivity refers to the susceptibility of a bacterial strain to antimicrobial agents that target the bacterial cell wall, such as those used to treat tuberculosis. The term AFB stands for "acid-fast bacilli," which are bacteria that have a thick, waxy cell wall that makes them difficult to stain and visualize using conventional laboratory techniques.

While clofazimine has been shown to be effective against some atypical mycobacteria, it is not considered a first-line treatment for tuberculosis or other AFB-positive infections. The treatment of tuberculosis and other AFB-positive infections typically involves a combination of antibiotics that are specifically targeted to the mycobacterial cell wall.

Why is Clofazimine AFB Sensitivity done?

AFB sensitivity testing is performed to determine the susceptibility of bacterial strains, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to antimicrobial agents that target the bacterial cell wall, such as those used to treat tuberculosis. This testing is important because it helps clinicians to select the most appropriate antibiotic therapy for patients with AFB-positive infections.

AFB sensitivity testing can help to determine whether clofazimine is likely to be effective against the bacterial strain causing the infection.

In addition to guiding treatment decisions, AFB sensitivity testing can also help to identify antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, which may require alternative or combination therapies to effectively treat the infection. This information is important not only for individual patient management but also for public health efforts to control the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Sample Type Required for Clofazimine AFB Sensitivity

AFB sensitivity testing can be performed on different types of clinical samples, depending on the suspected source of infection. For tuberculosis and other respiratory tract infections, the preferred sample types for AFB culture and sensitivity testing are sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and endotracheal aspirates.

Other sample types that can be used for AFB culture and sensitivity testing include cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for central nervous system infections, tissue biopsies for extrapulmonary infections, and urine for genitourinary infections.

Cost of Clofazimine AFB Sensitivity

The cost of Clofazimine AFB Sensitivity near me in Delhi ranges from INR 6,000 to INR 36,000