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Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
Research Guide
What is Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing?
Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing is the laboratory process of identifying bacterial species from clinical samples and determining their sensitivity to antimicrobial agents to guide effective treatment.
This field encompasses over 65,708 published works focused on microbial identification and diagnosis, particularly using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and rapid diagnostic testing for blood cultures and bacteremia. Key methods include standardized disk diffusion and dilution tests for antimicrobial susceptibility, as detailed in foundational papers. Growth data over the past five years is not available.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
MALDI-TOF MS for Bacterial Identification
This sub-topic evaluates MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for rapid, accurate identification of bacteria from cultures and directly from clinical samples. Researchers optimize protocols, databases, and performance across species.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Standardization
This sub-topic develops CLSI and EUCAST standards for disk diffusion, broth microdilution, and automated AST methods. Researchers validate reproducibility, breakpoints, and quality control strains.
Blood Culture Systems and Optimization
This sub-topic covers advancements in automated blood culture bottles, media formulations, and detection times for bacteremia diagnosis. Researchers study contamination reduction and fastidious organism recovery.
Molecular Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections
This sub-topic explores PCR, sequencing, and syndromic panels for direct pathogen detection from clinical specimens bypassing culture. Researchers assess sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing capabilities.
Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Methods
This sub-topic investigates phenotypic and genotypic rapid AST like phenotypic microarrays, flow cytometry, and genotypic resistance prediction. Researchers compare turnaround times and clinical utility.
Why It Matters
Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing directly informs antibiotic selection in clinical settings, reducing treatment failures and resistance spread. Bauer et al. (1966) in "Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by a Standardized Single Disk Method" established the disk diffusion method, which remains a global standard and has accumulated 18,175 citations for its reproducibility in testing bacterial responses to antibiotics. In bacteremia cases, rapid identification via MALDI-TOF MS enables timely therapy, as emphasized in clinical microbiology manuals, while reports like "Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2019" by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) highlight 48,700 annual deaths linked to resistance, underscoring the need for accurate susceptibility data to combat threats like Staphylococcus aureus infections described by Lowy (1998).
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by a Standardized Single Disk Method" by Bauer et al. (1966), as it introduces the foundational disk diffusion technique with clear, reproducible steps cited 18,175 times.
Key Papers Explained
Bauer et al. (1966) "Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by a Standardized Single Disk Method" establishes disk diffusion basics, which Ferraro (2000) "Methods for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests for bacteria that grow aerobically" complements with quantitative dilution protocols (16,886 citations). "Manual of Clinical Microbiology" (1980) integrates these into lab practices (14,477 citations), while "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology" (1975) provides identification taxonomy (11,397 citations) and Ferraro (2001) "Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing" sets interpretive criteria (9,765 citations).
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current efforts emphasize MALDI-TOF MS for rapid identification in blood cultures, alongside updated susceptibility standards to address resistance, though no recent preprints or news are available.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by a Standardized Single Dis... | 1966 | American Journal of Cl... | 18.2K | ✕ |
| 2 | Methods for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests for ba... | 2000 | — | 16.9K | ✕ |
| 3 | Manual of Clinical Microbiology. | 1980 | Annals of Internal Med... | 14.5K | ✕ |
| 4 | Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology | 1975 | Taxon | 11.4K | ✕ |
| 5 | Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing | 2001 | — | 9.8K | ✕ |
| 6 | Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Reconciliation of Approaches... | 1987 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ... | 7.3K | ✕ |
| 7 | Methods for in vitro evaluating antimicrobial activity: A review | 2015 | Journal of Pharmaceuti... | 6.6K | ✓ |
| 8 | CDC/NHSN surveillance definition of health care–associated inf... | 2008 | American Journal of In... | 6.5K | ✕ |
| 9 | <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>Infections | 1998 | New England Journal of... | 6.0K | ✕ |
| 10 | Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2019 | 2019 | — | 5.8K | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standardized single disk method for antibiotic susceptibility testing?
The standardized single disk method places antibiotic-impregnated disks on agar plates inoculated with bacteria to measure inhibition zones, determining susceptibility. Bauer et al. (1966) in "Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by a Standardized Single Disk Method" defined criteria for zone diameters, enabling reproducible results across labs. This approach has been cited 18,175 times for its simplicity and reliability in aerobic bacteria testing.
How does MALDI-TOF MS contribute to bacterial identification?
MALDI-TOF MS analyzes bacterial protein profiles via mass spectrometry for rapid species identification from cultures. It supports clinical microbiology by shortening turnaround times for blood culture positives in bacteremia cases. This technique is central to the 65,708 papers in the field.
What are dilution methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing?
Dilution methods determine minimum inhibitory concentrations by testing serial antibiotic dilutions in broth or agar against bacterial growth. Ferraro (2000) in "Methods for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests for bacteria that grow aerobically" provides standardized protocols, cited 16,886 times. These methods offer quantitative data for resistant strains.
Why is antimicrobial susceptibility testing essential in clinical microbiology?
Susceptibility testing guides antibiotic therapy to match bacterial vulnerabilities, minimizing resistance emergence. Manuals like "Manual of Clinical Microbiology" (1980), with 14,477 citations, outline practices for accurate testing. It addresses threats noted in "Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2019," linking to 48,700 yearly U.S. deaths.
What role do reference manuals play in bacterial systematics?
Reference manuals like "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology" (1975), cited 11,397 times, provide taxonomic criteria for identifying bacterial genera and species. Wayne et al. (1987) in "Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Reconciliation of Approaches to Bacterial Systematics" standardized nomenclature, cited 7,268 times. These resources ensure consistent classification in diagnostics.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can MALDI-TOF MS accuracy be improved for polymicrobial blood cultures in bacteremia?
- ? What standardization is needed for integrating molecular diagnosis with traditional susceptibility testing?
- ? Which protocols best predict clinical outcomes from in vitro susceptibility results for resistant pathogens?
- ? How do taxonomic revisions impact identification workflows in routine clinical labs?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 65,708 works with no specified five-year growth rate; foundational methods from Bauer et al. and Ferraro (2000) continue dominating citations, reflecting sustained reliance on standardized disk diffusion and dilution tests amid ongoing bacteremia diagnostics via MALDI-TOF MS.
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