1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Lab results

Posted by payette78 @payette78, Mar 8 3:00pm

Just got confusing to me lab results from bronchoscopy. Acid fast bazillion isolated. Mycobacterium abscessuspostive after 12 days incubation (from BAL fluid I think). Then Direct Smear No acid Fast Bacilli found. So do I have MAC or not?

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payette78 | @payette78 | Mar 8 6:44pm

Acid fast bacillus. Mycobacterium abscessus positive. Autocorrect got me again. So I got smear negative and culture positive. Which signifies what? NTM needs treatment?

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Mar 8 9:53pm
In reply to @payette78 "Acid fast bacillus. Mycobacterium abscessus positive. Autocorrect got me again. So I got smear negative and..." + (show)
@payette78

Acid fast bacillus. Mycobacterium abscessus positive. Autocorrect got me again. So I got smear negative and culture positive. Which signifies what? NTM needs treatment?

Jump to this post

The smear is the preliminary, done quickly in the lab, and often there is not enough time for the bacteria to show up. The culture is done under controlled conditions, and at 12 days they still cannot quite tell the extent of the infection, your doc will be contacting you with next steps. Whether you are treated with antibiotics depends on the severity of the infection, the condition of your lungs, your symptoms and whether they think you can tolerate the regimen. With M Abscessus an infectious disease doc may also be brought in.

Can you contact your doctor on Monday?

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1 reply
payette78 | @payette78 | Mar 9 7:51am
In reply to @sueinmn "The smear is the preliminary, done quickly in the lab, and often there is not enough..." + (show)
@sueinmn

The smear is the preliminary, done quickly in the lab, and often there is not enough time for the bacteria to show up. The culture is done under controlled conditions, and at 12 days they still cannot quite tell the extent of the infection, your doc will be contacting you with next steps. Whether you are treated with antibiotics depends on the severity of the infection, the condition of your lungs, your symptoms and whether they think you can tolerate the regimen. With M Abscessus an infectious disease doc may also be brought in.

Can you contact your doctor on Monday?

Jump to this post

Thanks again, Sue. Awesome info. I am taking antibiotics for staph and pseudomonas and scheduled to talk to the doc when done with the antibiotics next week.

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