A 76-year-old male visits his primary care physician with complaints of burning with urination and a frequent urge to void. The RN aids the patient in collecting a urine specimen to be sent for analysis. While awaiting the final results of drug susceptibility testing in the lab, the patient is prescribed oral sulfasoxazole.
-In the lab,the urine specimen is spread on an agar plate with antibiotic discs placed to determine antimicrobial susceptibility.Following incubation,the clear area around each disc is measured.What term describes the observed area of antimicrobial action around each disc?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observed area of antimicrobial action around each disc is called the zone of inhibition. It is the clear area on the plate where the bacteria did not grow due to the presence of the antibiotic. The size of the zone of inhibition can be used to determine the susceptibility of the bacteria to the antibiotic.

A 76-Year-Old Male Visits His Primary Care Physician with Complaints