Answer :
The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that prevents visible bacterial growth in vitro, hence the correct answer is b.
The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) is a critical parameter used in microbiology to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications against bacterial strains.
It represents the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent required to prevent visible growth of a specific bacterial strain in vitro, typically determined through laboratory testing methods such as broth microdilution or agar dilution assays.
During MIC testing, varying concentrations of the antimicrobial agent are exposed to the bacterial culture, and the MIC value is determined as the lowest concentration at which no visible growth of the bacteria occurs after a specified incubation period.
This concentration represents the threshold at which the antimicrobial agent effectively inhibits the growth of the bacterial strain being tested, providing valuable information about its potency and susceptibility profile, hence the correct answer is b. the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial medication needed to prevent visible growth of a given bacterial strain in vitro.