Definition for Kirby-Bauer test
From Biology Forums Dictionary
The Kirby-Bauer test involves placing a series of antibiotic-treated disks on an agar plate that has previously been inoculated with a bacterial culture. The inoculum is sufficiently heavy, resulting in a lawn of bacteria after incubation. If the bacterium is sensitive to the antibiotic, a zone of clearing forms around the disk. The size of the zone of clearing provides information regarding the sensitivity of the bacterium to the antibiotic on the disk. Because many clinical isolates may be resistant to a given antibiotic, and because the isolate must be sensitive to the antibiotic for effective treatment, the Kirby-Bauer method allows determination of the best antibiotic to use for treatment.
