Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing

Abstract

Ideally, an antibiotic sensitivity test predicts accurately the effects most antibiotics will have on most organisms, and it can be carried out quickly. Such a test is not available. Although tube dilution tests are better than disks placed on agar, they take more time and are more tedious. A disk diffusion method, standardized against tube dilutions, is a compromise technic that works well.

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Notes on contributors

John B. Henry

After serving ably as editor of this section for more than nine years, Dr. Ellis S. Benson has now relinquished this commitment, and I will be assuming the responsibility. The opportunity to communicate and translate into patient care vital Information on basic science and clinical investigation through measurements and examinations is greatly appreciated. We welcome comments and suggestions from readers so that we may remain close to our goals. The Increasing role of clinical pathology or laboratory medicine in patient care warrants continuing educational efforts and communication between the physician at the bedside and the laboratory.—John B. Henry, M.D.

John P. Russell

JOHN P. RUSSELL Dr. Russell is assistant professor in the department of pathology, division of clinical pathology, State University of New York Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse.