Antimicrobial susceptibility tests are used to determine which specific antibiotics a particular bacteria or fungus is sensitive to. Most often, this testing complements a Gram stain and culture, the results of which are obtained much sooner. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests can guide the physician in drug choice and dosage for difficult-to-treat infections. Results are commonly reported as the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), which is the lowest concentration of drug that inhibits the growth of the organism. Reports typically contain a quantitative result in µg/mL and a qualitative interpretation. The goal of antimicrobial susceptibility testing is to predict the in vivo success or failure of antibiotic therapy. Tests are performed in vitro , and measure the growth response of an isolated organism to a particular drug or drugs.
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals