Answer :
Final answer:
Using a standardized bacterial strain concentration in the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test is crucial for accurate susceptibility and resistance readings. It facilitates standardized readings of the zone of inhibition, which without could lead to incorrect interpretations due to various test factors. It also assists in performing accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for identifying specific bacteria's drug activity spectrum.
Explanation:
The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test is pivotal in determining the susceptibility and resistance of bacterial pathogens to antibacterial drugs. The test uses drug-impregnated disks on an agar plate inoculated with a bacterial strain. It's crucial to use a standard concentration of bacteria, as varied concentrations can cause inconsistencies in the zone of inhibition around the disk - this could lead to incorrect interpretations of susceptibility or resistance.
For this assay, multiple factors influence the size of the zone of inhibition, such as drug solubility, rate of drug diffusion through agar, agar medium thickness, and the drug concentration in the disk. As such, a lack of standardization can provide only limited data on susceptibility and resistance to the drugs tested since the test cannot distinguish between bacteriostatic (inhibiting bacteria growth) and bactericidal (killing bacteria) actions.
Furthermore, this test is critical for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in clinical laboratories to identify the spectrum of activity and therapeutic dosage of antimicrobial drugs for specific bacteria. Hence, maintaining a standardized bacterial strain concentration is vital for accurate therapeutic choice.
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