Resistenzprofil

Resistenzprofil, or resistance profile, refers to the pattern of an organism’s susceptibility or resistance to a set of antimicrobial agents. It is derived from antimicrobial susceptibility testing and is used to guide treatment decisions, inform infection control, and monitor trends in antimicrobial resistance.

The profile is generated through standardized laboratory methods such as disk diffusion (Kirby-Bauer), broth microdilution, or gradient tests (for example, Etest). Results are interpreted using guidelines from organizations like EUCAST or CLSI. Each tested antibiotic is categorized as susceptible, intermediate (or nonsusceptible), or resistant. In many reports, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values accompany or replace these categories. A resistenzprofil may also indicate the presence of resistance determinants, such as ESBLs, MRSA, or carbapenemases, which can have implications for infection control.

In clinical practice, the resistenzprofil informs the selection of effective antibiotics, considering factors like pharmacokinetics, tissue penetration, and patient safety. It also supports antimicrobial stewardship efforts and public health surveillance by documenting resistance patterns over time and across healthcare settings.

Limitations include that in vitro results do not always predict in vivo success, and outcomes depend on testing conditions, specimen quality, and the chosen range of antibiotics. Resistance can be heterogeneous within a population and may change during treatment.

See also: antibiotic susceptibility testing, antibiogram, antimicrobial resistance, surveillance.