Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is a crucial process performed in clinical microbiology labs to identify potential drug resistance in common pathogens and ensure the effectiveness of antibiotics for a specific infection. In recent years, the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance has fueled the demand for AST.
Accurate and timely AST results are critical in guiding physicians' treatment decisions, helping to reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs associated with antimicrobial resistance.
As Laboratory Practitioners, What we need to do to help combating Antimicrobial drug resistance? Share your opinions in the comment section
Antibiotic sensitivity testing is the measurement of the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. It is used because bacteria may have resistance to some antibiotics. Sensitivity testing results allow clinicians to change the choice of antibiotics from empiric therapy, which is when an antibiotic is selected based on clinical suspicion about the site of an infection and common causative bacteria that cause the infection and prevailing symptoms in patients.
Antibiotic sensitivity testing is the measurement of the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. It is used because bacteria may have resistance to some antibiotics. Sensitivity testing results allow clinicians to change the choice of antibiotics from empiric therapy, which is when an antibiotic is selected based on clinical suspicion about the site of an infection and common causative bacteria that cause the infection and prevailing symptoms in patients.