Module 7: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests Flashcards
When might antimicrobial susceptibility not be performed?
When the bacteria is known to be universally susceptible to certain antibiotics
ex: S. pyogenes with Pen G, S. pneumoniae with Pen G, anaerobes
What are 3 conventional methods for performing susceptibility testing?
Broth, agar, and disc diffusion
How is a standard bacterial inoculum achieved for susceptibility testing?
- 3-10 colonies from a primary plate used
- Colonies in log growth phase (after 18-24 hour incubation)
- Suspension made up to 0.5 McFarland standard
Why are bacteria in the log growth phase desired for susceptibility testing?
They are actively metabolizing and most sensitive to antibiotics
What are the direct and indirect methods used in inoculated broth for susceptibility?
Indirect - colonies emulsified and then incubated until turbid
Direct - colonies emulsified until they reach 0.5 McFarland
What growth medium has been standardized for susceptibility testing?
Mueller Hinton agar or broth
What does the Mueller Hinton broth/agar contain?
Beef infusion Acid hydrolysis of casein Starch Water (Agar for MH agar) pH = 7.2-7.4
What cautions must be observed in the test medium?
- Calcium and magnesium concentration close to that of the body
- Check for thymidine with QC organisms
What might improper calcium and magnesium level in the test medium do to the susceptibility results?
Affects aminoglycoside movement
Too much mag/cal = prevent movement = false resistance
Too little mag/cal = more movement = false sensitivity
What would happen if too much thymidine was in the test medium?
Interferes with sulfonamides and trimethoprim
Bacteria can use thymidine to bypass PABA to folic acid pathway
Too much = false resistance
What are two methods of broth dilution susceptibility testing?
Macro and micro
What happens in the macro broth dilution susceptibility test?
Antibiotic diluted in serious of doubling dilutions
Inoculum added to each tube
Incubated overnight and inspected for visible growth/turbidity
Lowest inhibitory concentration determind
Define minimum inhibitory concentration
Lowest concentration of antimicrobial in mg/L that prevents in vitro growth of the organism
Define minimum bactericidal concentration
Lowest concentration of antimicrobial in mg/L that results in more than 99.9% killing in vitro
How is MBC determined?
Taking all no growth MIC tubes and planting them to a plate then incubated overnight.
The plate with 0.01% growth to no growth with the smallest dilution is the MBC
What are the two controls included on a microdilution susceptibility test? (Many welled plate)
Sterility well - does not get inoculated with bacteria, should have no growth
Growth control - does not have antimicrobials, should have growth
What are the advantages of automated susceptibility systems?
Quick results - usually same day reporting
Accurate
Less technologist time
Why are purity plates required for automated susceptibility testing methods?
To ensure that the bacteria sampled is only of one type
What is involved in agar dilution susceptibility testing?
Antimicrobials are diluted in the agar itself, standard inoculum is used, plates are incubated, MIC is read the same was as in a broth susceptibility test
What adaptations can be made to make agar dilution sensitivity testing feasible routinely?
Limit the number of plates used by only using dilutions within the antimicrobials theraputic range
Single plate representing the break point for each antimicrobial, growth = resistant
What are advantages of agar dilution susceptibility testing?
Cheap if plates are readily available
Customizable test for different microbials and urinary concentrations
Adaptive testing for fastidious organisms (special nutrients required)
What manual test is most often used for antimicrobial sensitivity?
Disc diffusion on Kirby Bauer plates
What is the principle of Kirby Baur disc diffusion sensitivity testing?
Antibiotic discs are placed on agar after streaking with inoculum and the plate is incubated
Antimicrobials diffuse out of the disc and inhibit bacterial growth
A zone of inhibition is made (no growth) and measured to determine sensitivity
What factors affect antibiotic diffusion rate in KB disc diffusion?
Agar depth (4-6mm) - thin = greater diffusion, thick = less diffusion Composition - stiff = less diffusion Moisture and pH
What does “critical point” in KB disc diffusion mean?
The lowest concentration of antibiotics that inhibits growth (where the growth stops)
What is a regression graph?
Shows relation between MIC and disc zone of inhibition measurements
What happens to a KB disc diffusion test if the standard inoculum is not met?
Standard = 0.5 McFarland Higher = smaller zone of inhibition = resistance Lower = bigger zone of inhibition = sensitivity
What may happen on KB disc diffusion when using sulfonamides or trimethoprim discs?
A fine veil of growth within the zone of inhibition, even if the organism is susceptible (will continue to grow until folic acid is used up)
What may happen on KB disc diffusion when using penicillin discs?
Sharp irregular zones around beta-lactam antibiotics
Beta-lactamase is produced by the bacteria
INTERPRET AS RESISTANT
What does moderately susceptible mean?
Implies that bacteria can be treated by attainable concentration of the antimicrobial, provided higher dosages are used, or in a body site (urine) where drugs are concentrated