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Introduction Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Healthcare Waste Management (HCWM) are critical systems used to minimize the spread of pathogens, protecting patients, healthcare workers, and the environment. Approximately 15–25% of healthcare waste is considered hazardous, necessitating strict management protocols. IPC is an evidence-based approach …
Introduction Orientia and Rickettsia are two closely related genera of bacteria within the family Rickettsiaceae. Both are small, gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogens, meaning they can only grow and replicate inside the living cells of their hosts. While they share many clinical features—such as causing fever, …
Introduction A Biosafety Officer (BSO) is a technical expert responsible for the strategic and integrated management of biological risks within an organization. Acting as the human component of a biosafety system, they ensure that laboratory practices, containment, and procedures minimize unintentional exposure to pathogens and …
Introduction The VITEK 2 System is an automated microbiology platform designed for the rapid identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of a wide range of microorganisms. It utilizes miniaturized, closed cards that enhance lab safety and streamline workflow. The VITEK 2 cards are lightweight, …
Introduction First-Line Drug Susceptibility Testing (FL-DST or sometimes referred to in context as SL-DST when covering all first-line agents: Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide) is a crucial laboratory procedure used to determine if a patient’s Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strain is sensitive or resistant to primary anti-TB …
Introduction Second-line drug susceptibility testing (SL-DST) for tuberculosis is a crucial laboratory procedure designed to detect resistance to anti-TB drugs used when first-line treatment fails (i.e., multidrug-resistant TB – MDR-TB). Principle SL-DST measures the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to specific agents by determining the Critical …
Introduction of Bacterial Load (Decoding the CFU) Bacterial load, measured in Colony-Forming Units (CFU), is a fundamental concept in microbiology used to estimate the number of viable (living) microorganisms in a sample. Unlike total cell counts that include dead bacteria, the CFU method only counts …
Introduction Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is an automated diagnostic test designed for the rapid and simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampin (RIF). It is a second-generation assay developed by Cepheid to provide significantly higher sensitivity than the original Xpert MTB/RIF, particularly for …