Epsilometer test

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E test

The epsilometer test (also called E-test ) is a method in microbiology to easily determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an antibiotic for a bacterium to be examined .

The test consists of a plastic strip with an antibiotic on one side. The concentration of this antibiotic increases exponentially in steps from the lower to the upper end of the strip, which is marked with graduations on the strip. The strip is placed on a bacterial culture that is spread out as a bacterial lawn. This is then usually incubated at 37 ° C for 24 hours. The antibiotic diffuses into the agar and inhibits bacterial growth in a certain zone. Based on this inhibition zone and the graduations, it is possible to read off the minimum inhibitory concentration required to carry out an effective inhibition, which determines the amount of medication for the patient.

Compared to the simple antibiogram, the test provides more precise information about the resistance behavior of a bacterium.

The E-Test is also available in versions with antimycotics to examine the resistance behavior of fungi . The way it works is the same.

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