Antibiotic susceptibility testing
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (pronunciation: an-tee-by-oh-tik suh-sep-tuh-bil-uh-tee testing) is a laboratory method used to determine the resistance or susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics.
Etymology
The term "Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing" is derived from the words "antibiotic" (from the Greek anti, meaning 'against', and bios, meaning 'life') and "susceptibility testing" (from the Latin susceptibilis, meaning 'receptive').
Process
The process involves exposing a bacterial isolate to a series of antibiotic concentrations to determine the lowest concentration that inhibits the visible growth of the bacteria. This is known as the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
Methods
There are several methods of Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing, including the disk diffusion method, the Etest, and the broth dilution method.
Importance
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing is crucial in clinical settings to guide the choice of antibiotics for treatment of bacterial infections. It is also used in surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.
Related Terms
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Antibiotics
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentration
- Disk Diffusion Method
- Etest
- Broth Dilution Method
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