User:Tythomas13/Minimum inhibitory concentration

Introduction
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of a chemical, more commonly an antibiotic, that prevents the growth of bacteria. The lower the minimum inhibitory concentration value, the less of the drug needed to prevent the bacterial growth. This leads us to believe that antibiotics with lower MIC values, are more effective at battling bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration of one chemical or antibiotic cannot be compared to that of another chemical or antibiotic. The purpose of measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration is to ensure that antibiotics are chosen efficiently to increase the success of treatment. While the minimum inhibitory concentration is the lowest concentration of a chemical or antibiotic needed to prevent bacterial growth, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) is the lowest concentration of a chemical or antibiotic needed to end in complete bacterial death. The closer the two measurements are, the more effective the chemical or antibiotic will be. To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration endpoint, different concentrations of the chemical or antibiotic are inoculated with bacteria and the results are measured.

History
Alexander Fleming is a microbiologist, physician, and pharmacologist who is said to have developed minimum inhibitory concentration when he developed the broth dilution technique. Broth dilution is a technique used to measure bacterial growth in the presence of antibiotics. Broth dilution, along with similar tests such as agar dilution assays, and automated systems from other manufacturers, are ultimately used to determine the endpoint of the minimum inhibitory concentration of substances. Fleming studied antibacterial substances at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in Paddington, England.

Usage
The minimum inhibitory concentration is used as a quantitative test method to determine the effectiveness of an antibiotic. The minimum inhibitory concentration is a measured concentration of the antibiotic between, the initial state when there was no bacterial growth and when bacterial growth was present. The MIC is reported by providing the susceptibility interpretation next to each antibiotic. When comparing MIC's, it does not solely depend on the number but also on, the infection site, age, species, and initial health of the infected. The different susceptibility interpretations are: S for sensitive, I for intermediate, and R for resistant. These interpretations were created and implemented by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).