Slichter test

Indications

• useful for patients not responding to antibiotic therapy or on long term antibiotic therapy for example, bacterial endocarditis

Principle

• serial dilutions of peak & trough serum are tested for growth inhibition against organism isolated from patient
• 1st phase tests for cloudiness of tube & bacteriostatic activity
• 2nd phase tests ability of bacteriostatic levels to effect bactericidal activity on culture plate
• 1:8 dilution bactericidal activity is considered good coverage

More general terms

• antibiotic sensitivity (Kirby-Bauer susceptibility testing)

Additional terms

• minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)