Antimicrobial Testing

Flashcards on Antimicrobial Testing and related vocabulary.

True Antibiotic

An antimicrobial chemical produced by microorganisms against other microorganisms.

Kirby-Bauer Test

Also called the disc diffusion test, it is a standard test used to determine the resistance or sensitivity of bacteria to specific chemicals.

Biostatic (Bacteriostatic) Agents

Agents that prevent the growth of microorganisms but do not kill them.

Biocidal (Bactericidal) Agents

Agents that kill microorganisms.

Sterilization

The process in which all organisms, including spores, are killed (example: autoclaving).

Disinfectants

Chemicals that reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms to the point where they pose no danger of disease; typically used to clean inanimate objects.

Antiseptics

Disinfectants that are safe enough to be applied to living tissue to kill and/or to inhibit the growth of microbes (example: iodine solution, rubbing alcohol).

Antibiotics

Antimicrobial substances that prevent bacterial growth or kill bacteria, and are used in humans and animals to fight bacterial infections.

Antimicrobials

The general category of substances that prevent bacterial growth or kill bacteria; includes chemicals such as disinfectants, antiseptics, and antibiotics.

Zone of Inhibition

A clear area on an agar plate surrounding a paper disc where bacteria did not grow, indicating susceptibility to the chemical on the disc.