Disk Diffusion Zone Diameter Research Articles

Proposed disk diffusion susceptibility criteria for ofloxacin.

Disk diffusion zone diameter breakpoint criteria for ofloxacin were tentatively established by correlating MICs with 1-, 3-, and 5-micrograms disk inhibitory zone diameters for 638 bacterial isolates representing 36 species. We recommend use of 5-micrograms disks with the following breakpoints: susceptible (MIC, less than or equal to 2.0 micrograms/ml), greater than or equal to 16 mm; intermediate (MIC, 4.0 micrograms/ml), 13 to 15 mm; and resistant (MIC, greater than or equal to 8.0 micrograms/ml), less than or equal to 12 mm.

Evaluation of in vitro antibacterial activity of enoxacin: Comparison with other orally absorbed antimicrobial agents, proposed disk diffusion test interpretive criteria, and quality control limits

The antibacterial activity of enoxacin was assessed by a standard microdilution susceptibility test method against 6,096 consecutive clinical isolates at four clinical laboratories and compared with that of norfloxacin and cefaclor. Its activity was comparable to that of norfloxacin; both inhibited over 90% of Enterobacteriaceae at 0.5 μg/ml. Resistance to enoxacin [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 〉 4 μg/ml] was observed in only 18 of 4,076 Enterobacteriaceae (0.5%, 36 of 650 nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (5.5%), and 6 of 836 staphylococci (0.7%). Relatively poor activity was observed against streptococci. An additional 618 selected clinical isolates were tested with enoxacin and were compared with nine other orally absorbed antimicrobial agents. The greatest activity was observed with enoxacin, norfloxacin, and cotrimoxazole, but some differences were noted with individual species. Results of enoxacin disk diffusion susceptibility testing of 487 isolates were correlated with the MICs, analyzed, and interpretive criteria were determined. With MIC breakpoints of: susceptible = ⩽2.0 μg/ml, intermediate = 4.0 μmg/ml, and resistant = 〉4.0 μg/ml, the corresponding preliminary disk diffusion zone diameter breakpoints for the 10-μg enoxacin disk are: susceptible ⩾18 mm, intermediate 15–17 mm, and resistant ⩽14 mm. Quality control zone diameter limits were determined for three standard QC organisms.