BREAKPOINTS IN ANTIBIOTIC-SENSITIVITY TESTING AND THEIR CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Antibiotic sensitivity testing has been developed into a highly sophis ticated process technically. Interpretation of results obtained requir es the definition of breakpoints in order to separate sensitive (likel y to respond to treatment) from resistant (likely to persist despite t reatment) strains. Various methods used for the setting of breakpoints are described and their merits and drawbacks discussed. Although ther e may be wide disparities in the definitions adopted in different coun tries, there is no clinical evidence that favours one set of figures o ver another. Problems over determination of breakpoints for fungi and of antibiotic combinations remain to be resolved.