Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by the Kirby–Bauer disc-diffusion method, with the isolates tested against agents including amikacin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Zone-of-inhibition diameters were measured and interpreted as susceptible, intermediate or resistant against the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints for 2021 [1]. Using an internationally recognised breakpoint standard, rather than ad-hoc cut-offs, is what makes susceptibility results comparable and clinically meaningful [1]. The exercise gave Jessica hands-on grounding in standardised, guideline-driven laboratory methodology, an outlook that later shaped her work with reporting standards in biostatistics.