Zone of inhibition
The zone of inhibition refers to the area around a substance, such as an antibiotic, where bacteria cannot grow. In laboratory testing, scientists place a substance on a dish containing bacteria and observe the effect. The area where bacteria fail to grow, forming a clear ring around the substance, is the zone of inhibition. This indicates the effectiveness of the substance in preventing bacterial growth. The larger the zone, the more effective the agent is at inhibiting the bacteria. This concept is crucial in drug development and understanding how to fight infections.
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The zone of inhibition refers to the clear area around an antibiotic disc placed on a bacterial culture where bacteria cannot grow. When antibiotics are tested, they diffuse into the surrounding area, preventing bacterial growth in that zone. The size of this zone indicates how effective the antibiotic is against the bacteria; a larger zone means stronger effectiveness. This method helps scientists and doctors determine which antibiotics can effectively treat infections caused by specific bacteria, guiding treatment decisions in medicine.