1 How can you determine if a zone of inhibition is due to de

1) How can you determine if a zone of inhibition is due to death or to inhibition of the bacterium?

2) In which growth phase are bacteria most susceptible to antibiotics? why?

Solution

!. Take a swab from the zone of inhibition and inoculate it into the nutrient medium which doesnot contain any antimicrobial components. If bacteria grows, the zone of inhibition was bacteristatic and if no growth, then the zone of inhibition is due to bactericidal or death of the bacteria.

2. Bacteria produce more cells in the log or exponential phase. Most of the antibiotic inhibits cell wall formation or protein synthesis or DNA replication. So, answer is log phase.