Micro Lab Report

Introduction/Purpose

In this lab we learn how the Kirby Bauer Test works. The Kirby Bauer test, known as the disk-diffusion method, is the most widely used test to determine strength of an antibiotic and in determining what treatment of antibiotics should be used when treating an infection. Antibiotics are chemical that are originally isolated from microorganisms that kill or inhibit bacterial growth. They are able to inhibit bacterial wall synthesis affecting the function of essential metabolic enzymes or may destroy plasma membrane causing leakage. Antibiotics can be grouped under either resistant or sensitive. If they have resistance then they are unable to kill, and if they have sensitivity they are able to kill. The zone of inhibition is the measurement of microbe’s sensitivity to antibiotics, which could also just mean that there is no microbial growth around the disc. If the resistance of the microbe grows around the disk, it is an indication that there is a microbial agent. There are also microbial agents which are agents that treat bacterial infections and basically controls its growth. Chemotherapeutic agents are antimicrobial chemicals absorbed through skin or oral. MIC stands for minimum inhibitory concentration and it determined by comparing zone of inhibition with MIC values of standard table. The zone size is affected by the diffusion rate of the antibiotic and the growth rate of the microbe.

Disinfectants are designed for use on surfaces, floors, benches, sinks and more. Antiseptics are used on or in living tissue type things.

Materials

Test tubes

Vortex

Plates

E. Coli

M. smegmatis

S. aureus

Chloramphenicol

Neomycin

Novobiocin

Penicillin

Strephomycin

Erythromycin

Kanamycin

Inoculating loop

H2O

Hand sanitizer

Alcohol

Method

Kirby Bauer Test

Get the test tube and add water to it. Next you get one of the bacteria and mix it in the test tube. Vortex the tube with the vortex machine for...