MICwaarde

MICwaarde is a Dutch abbreviation for Minimale Inhibitoire Concentratie, which translates to Minimum Inhibitory Concentration in English. It is a crucial measurement in microbiology and pharmacology, particularly when assessing the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents. The MICwaarde represents the lowest concentration of a specific antimicrobial drug that will inhibit the visible growth of a particular microorganism after overnight incubation.

To determine the MICwaarde, a series of dilutions of the antimicrobial agent are prepared and then inoculated with a standardized suspension of the microorganism. After incubation, the tubes or wells containing the lowest concentration of the drug that shows no visible microbial growth are identified. This concentration is the MICwaarde.

The MICwaarde is a fundamental parameter for guiding antibiotic therapy. A lower MICwaarde indicates that a lower concentration of the drug is sufficient to inhibit the microbe, suggesting greater susceptibility. Conversely, a higher MICwaarde implies that a higher concentration is needed, which might indicate resistance or a need for dose adjustment. It is a key component in susceptibility testing, helping clinicians select the most appropriate antibiotic for treating infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms. The concept is also used in environmental science to assess the impact of substances on microbial communities.