title: In-vitro activity of antibacterial drugs and clinical practice.
abstract: Before prescribing an antibiotic, treatment guidelines usually suggest that a specimen containing the suspected organism is sent for culture and sensitivity. Microbiology departments, for their part, use in-vitro sensitivity of isolates taken from patients with bacterial infections to recommend which antibiotic(s) to use in the patients themselves or as a guide to empirical treatment in others. In this article we consider the value of in-vitro testing to clinical practice.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents