Disk-diffusion method

Definition

The disk-diffusion method is a laboratory technique used to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents against specific bacteria. It involves placing antibiotic-impregnated disks on an agar plate inoculated with bacteria and measuring the zone of inhibition.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Developed by Alexander Fleming, also known as the Kirby-Bauer test.
2. Larger zones of inhibition indicate greater susceptibility of the bacteria to the antimicrobial agent.
3. Standardized methods ensure consistency, including using Mueller-Hinton agar and specific incubation conditions.
4. Results are interpreted by comparing zone diameters to standardized charts provided by organizations like CLSI or EUCAST.
5. Used in clinical settings to guide treatment decisions for bacterial infections.

Review Questions

Related terms

Antibiotic resistance: The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic.

Mueller-Hinton agar: A type of nutrient-rich media used specifically for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Zone of inhibition: The clear area surrounding an antibiotic disk where bacterial growth has been inhibited.