Guests Jame and Callum discuss the definitions of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, the complexities of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and comparisons of cidal vs static antibiotics in specific clinical scenarios. They challenge the belief that cidal antibiotics are always superior, emphasizing the importance of selecting the most appropriate antibiotic based on pathogens and patients.
Clinical distinction between bactericidal and bacteriostatic blurs in real-world scenarios despite clear lab definitions.
Evidence challenges the belief that bactericidal antibiotics are inherently superior to bacteriostatic alternatives in clinical efficacy.
Deep dives
Distinction between Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Antibiotics
In clinical situations, the distinction between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics becomes blurred despite clear-cut lab conditions. Recent revelations challenge the myth that bactericidal is superior to bacteriostatic, demonstrating that the preference for cyal over static is unsubstantiated.
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)
The MIC represents the concentration inhibiting visible growth after 24 hours, while the MBC denotes a three log 10 reduction in bacterial density. For a bactericidal classification, the MBC divided by the MIC must be less than four, indicating a closer relationship between the two concentrations.
Debunking Myths Surrounding Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Antibiotics
Various trials have shown that there is no significant superiority between bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents in treating different infections. The evidence challenges the notion that the mode of action, whether cyal or static, significantly impacts clinical outcomes in patients.
Importance of Specific Antibiotics Over Bactericidal vs. Bacteriostatic Classification
The choice of antibiotic based on sensitivity and patient-related factors is paramount, overshadowing the traditional emphasis on bactericidal versus bacteriostatic distinctions. Studies have indicated that the clinical relevance of antibiotic effectiveness transcends the simplistic cyal versus static dichotomy.
Jame and Callum were delighted to be invited as guests to the podcast Microbe Mail by host Vindana (Vin) Chibabhai. Check out the Microbe Mail podcast: https://microbemail.captivate.fm/ @microbemail
We discuss how bactericidal and bacteriostatic are defined, what the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) are and why this isn't as simple as it first seems. We then discuss specific clinical situations and where bactercidal vs static have been compared.