Antimicrobial Therapy II

Disk Diffusion Test

A method performed on Mueller Hinton agar to assess antimicrobial resistance by measuring the zone of inhibition around paper disks impregnated with antimicrobials.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that inhibits the growth of a microbe, determined by tests such as the Etest.

Kirby-Bauer method

A standardized disk diffusion test used to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics by measuring the inhibition zones.

Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors

A group of antibiotics that target bacterial cell wall synthesis, including Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, and Vancomycin.

Protein Synthesis Inhibitors

Antimicrobials that interrupt the protein production in bacteria, such as Aminoglycosides, Tetracyclines, and Macrolides.

Metabolic Antagonists

Substances that block metabolic pathways, mimicking key enzyme substrates, including Sulfonamides and Trimethoprim.

Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors

Antimicrobials that hinder DNA or RNA synthesis, like Fluoroquinolones and Rifamycins.

Mueller Hinton agar

A type of agar medium commonly used for disk diffusion susceptibility testing.

Antimetabolites

Antimicrobials that interfere with metabolic processes by competing with natural substrates for enzyme binding.

Synergistic Drug Interaction

A drug combination that enhances therapeutic efficacy, such as the use of Trimethoprim/Sulfa drugs.