Antibiogram

Definition

An antibiogram is a summary of antimicrobial susceptibilities of local bacterial isolates submitted to a laboratory over a specific period. It helps guide the selection of appropriate antibiotics for treating infections.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Antibiograms are essential for monitoring resistance trends in hospitals and communities.
2. They are typically updated annually to reflect changes in bacterial resistance patterns.
3. Clinicians use antibiograms to make evidence-based decisions on empiric antibiotic therapy.
4. Antibiograms often report susceptibility data for common pathogens such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
5. They can be specific to certain patient populations, such as ICU patients, to provide more targeted information.

Review Questions

• Why are antibiograms important in selecting antibiotics for treatment?
• How frequently are hospital antibiograms usually updated?
• What kind of pathogens are commonly included in an antibiogram?

Related terms

Empiric Therapy: Initial treatment given before definitive pathogen identification based on clinical judgment.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: Laboratory testing to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to various antibiotics.

Resistance Trend: The pattern or change in bacterial resistance to antibiotics over time.