• 4 main antimicrobial sites

Antimicrobial - substance with inhibitory properties against other microorganisms

Antibiotic - substance produced by microorganisms with inhibitory effects against other microorganisms Selective toxicity - max damage to microorganism with min/no damage to host

Antibiotic resistance:

• Innate = organism not affected by agent eg not correct target site

• Acquired = change in genetic make up eg plasmid

• 4 mechanisms of resistance

• MIC - Minimum Inhibitory Concentration

Specimen Collection

• obtain before microbial therapy
• collect in appropriate manner eg aseptic
• store, place in sterile environment. no cross infection
• LABEL with pt details and request form