Minimum Bactericidal Concentration

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Quick understanding of the test

Minimum Bactericidal Concentration

The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) test determines the minimum concentration of an antimicrobial agent required to kill 99.9% of a specific bacterial population within a defined time frame.

Application

Applicable to test antimicrobial agents such as drugs, antiseptics, disinfectants, and other liquid formulations.
  • Serial dilutions of antimicrobial test compounds are made and are inoculated with test microorganisms.
  • These dilutions are further transferred into 96-well Microtiter Plates. In parallel, a growth control and sterile control are also used in the test procedure.  
  • Microtiter plate is further incubated at a specific temperature and duration.
  • After incubation bacterial growth is observed. 
  • The lowest concentration of dilution with no turbidity or visible growth is referred as MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration).
  • Dilutions showing MIC are plated on a suitable growth medium and incubated to determine the viable cells.

Turnaround Time

The MBC test typically takes 1-2 weeks to complete.
Results indicate the lowest antimicrobial concentration capable of achieving a 99.9% bacterial reduction.

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Abstract

The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) test determines the minimum concentration of antibacterial agents required to kill 99.9% of test microorganisms in the original inoculum within a specified time frame. Typically performed after determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), the MBC test evaluates the efficacy of new drugs and various other antimicrobial agents. It plays a vital role in pharmaceutical development, clinical microbiology, and industrial applications, ensuring that antimicrobial agents are effective in achieving bactericidal activity.

Advantages of Minimum Bactericidal Concentration Test

  • Differentiates Bacteriostatic from Bactericidal Agents:
    It helps distinguish whether an agent inhibits bacterial growth or eradicates bacteria, providing critical insights for product development and clinical applications.
  • Standardized and Quantifiable Results:Offers consistent, reproducible results through standardized methodologies, ensuring reliability in research and clinical practice.
  • Complements MIC Tests: MBC tests provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of antimicrobials, complementing MIC tests and offering a fuller picture of their pharmacodynamic properties.

Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) Test Method

  • Overnight grown culture of test microorganisms is diluted in growth-supporting broth (Mueller Hinton Broth) between 1 x 10^5 and 1 x 10^6 cfu/ml.
  • Serial dilutions of antimicrobial test compounds are made.
  • All the dilutions of test compounds are inoculated with an equal volume of test microorganisms.
  • These dilutions are further transferred into 96-well Microtiter Plates. In parallel, a growth control (bacterial suspension without any antimicrobial agent) and sterile control (media without bacteria where no bacterial growth is observed after incubation) are also used in the test procedure. 
  • Microtiter plate is further incubated at a specific temperature and duration.
  • After incubation bacterial growth is observed,  turbidity indicates the growth of the microorganism, and lowest concentration of dilution with no turbidity or visible growth is referred as MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration).
  • 2-3 dilutions showing MIC are plated on a suitable growth medium and incubated to determine the viable cells.
  • The lowest concentration that shows 99.9% reduction of the tested bacteria is MBC.

Importance of Minimum Bactericidal Concentration

  • Therapeutic Guidance: It guides clinicians to use the appropriate dosages of antibiotics so that they could treat patients effectively without resistance.
  • Research and Development: MBC is an integral part of drug development and will be used to evaluate the new antibiotics with well-established ones in terms of their potency.
  • Infection Control: It will assist in formulating guidelines of disinfection and sterilization procedures in healthcare environments.

Strengths of Minimum Bactericidal Concentration

  • The MBC test helps in determining the minimum concentration of an agent required to achieve a bactericidal effect.
  • The MBC test is an effective and relatively cost-efficient method  for screening multiple antimicrobial agents for potency.
  • The MBC test parameters are simple to control in a laboratory setting, enabling easy comparisons of various antimicrobial agents simultaneously.

Conclusion

At Microbe Investigations, we offer a comprehensive array of antimicrobial (antibacterial & antiviral) testing services. Contact us today to know more about our testing services.

Frequently Asked Questions

DR. Martinoz Scholtz

MIS Labs
1. What is Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Microbiology ( MBC)?

The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) test determines the minimum concentration of antibacterial agents required to kill 99.9% of test microorganisms in the original inoculum within a specified time frame

2. What are the Products that can be tested with Minimum Bactericidal Concentration test?

This test is applicable for drugs, antiseptics, disinfectants, and other liquid formulations.

3. What is the Turnaround Time for Minimum Bactericidal Concentration test?

The turnaround time for this test is 1-2 weeks . 

4. On how many strains can your MBC testing lab perform tests on?

At Microbe Investigations, we test for MBC using the following bacteria:  Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and  Enterobacter species.

5. How is MBC different from MIC?

Minimum bactericidal concentration is the lowest concentration of an antibiotic at  which bacteria are killed whereas minimum inhibitory concentration is the lowest concentration at which bacterial growth is inhibited.

6. Why is testing for MBC important in clinical diagnostics?

Testing for Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) is crucial in clinical diagnostics so that proper dosing is prescribed, making the outcome of treatment effective in killing the pathogen and preventing resistance.

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