Sputum Culture- What does AFB Smear Positive mean?

Posted by pop55 @pop55, Apr 13, 2022

What does AFB Smear Positive mean? I have had 3 recent cultures and my February results were AFB Smear Positive, 3+ 4 to 36 AFB/fields observed. Two weeks ago I did another culture that was smear negative and I have another culture that is pending. I have an appointment at NJ next week.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 2 days ago

In reply to @sweethighland "@margiel17 Yes, chronic infection makes my ferritin level and iron level low. They said it is..." + (show)

@sweethighland Can you tell me who "they" are? When I had low ferritin, I was temporarily prescribed an iron supplement, but stopped it as soon as my levels normalized.

sweethighland | @sweethighland | 1 day ago

In reply to @sueinmn "@sweethighland Can you tell me who "they" are? When I had low ferritin, I was temporarily..." + (show)

@sueinmn Sorry Sue, I didn't make it clear. There are many research papers that I have been reading a correlation between iron intake and bacterial biofilms. I explored with my own situation and the months that I take iron, my bacteria load goes up to Moderate and Heavy. I'm torn between iron level and bacteria load.

irenea8 | @irenea8 | 18 hours ago

In reply to @sweethighland "@sueinmn Sorry Sue, I didn't make it clear. There are many research papers that I have..." + (show)

@sweethighland
I can so relate to being torn between iron levels and bacteria load. My pulmo said they used to worry about iron intake but now have found that "the body wins". I think he meant that the body will take up the increase in iron rather than the pseudo (in my case). But I have not found that to be true. So I just try to get a little iron in my diet but since I do not eat red meat, it is very limited. If you do need to supplement maybe try very small amounts?

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