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Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing

Antibiotic sensitivity tests are performed to inform appropriate choice of antibiotic to treat infection.

  • Resistant predicts that the antibiotic will fail to eradicate the infecting organism.
  • Sensitive generally predicts success in treatment.
  • Intermediate indicates that success is dependent on achieving a high enough concentration of antibiotic at the site of infection. This is more likely with topical antibiotics or for agents used to treat urinary infection.
    Alternatively use the highest recommended dose.

The ordering of antibiotic sensitivities released on a report may vary between reports for technical reasons and does not represent any judgement on priority for use. Antibiotic choice to treat infection should be guided by sensitivity tests as indicated above, but final selection of an appropriate antibiotic should determined by local guidelines and the individual clinical context.