antibiotic-sensitivity-test
Reviewed
This test helps find which antibiotic will be most effective against the bacteria or fungus causing your infection. It is often used when an infection may be resistant to standard antibiotics.
Preparation and collection
No special preparation is needed.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Results are based on lab conditions and may not perfectly predict how the antibiotic will work in your body.
- If all tested antibiotics are resistant, you may need a combination of medicines.
What to do next
Your healthcare provider will discuss the results and recommend the most appropriate antibiotic treatment. Always take antibiotics exactly as prescribed and complete the full course.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: antibiotic-sensitivity-test