Examine the diffusion susceptibility plate results shown in Figure 10.9. Propose

The ring of colonies within the outermost limit of the zone of inhibition indicates that there are some cells in the population that are less susceptible to the antibiotic than the rest. If this antibiotic were used to treat an infection with this population, the growth of bacteria with some resistance would be promoted at the expense of the more susceptible cells, potentially giving rise to a new variant that is fully resistant. If this were to occur in a patient being treated, the antibiotic therapy would fail, putting the patient's health at risk. Therefore drug AM would be a poor choice, perhaps the poorest choice, for chemotherapy against this bacterial species.