Serum Bactericidal Activity as a Monitor of Antibiotic Therapy

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Abstract
THE serum bactericidal-activity test has been used for many years to monitor antibiotic therapy in the treatment of patients with infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, bacteremia, or other serious bacterial infections. This test determines the greatest dilution (in twofold steps) of a serum sample, obtained while the patient is receiving antibiotic treatment, that kills ≥99.9 per cent of an inoculum of the infecting pathogen in vitro over 18 to 24 hours.1 2 3 4 5 Types of serum antibacterial tests were used as long ago as 1912 by Wright6 and 1917 by Moore and Chesney7 , 8 in the evaluation of the quinine derivative optochin (ethylhydrocupreine) for the . . .