Disinfectants and the Kirby-Bauer Method

Disinfectants and Kirby-Bauer Method
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Disinfectants and Kirby-Bauer Method
Mechanism Used by Disinfectants
Generally, there are three mechanisms of action employed by disinfectants to affect or eliminate an organism. The mechanisms are cross-linking, clumping as well as coagulating. The procedures entail clumping the microorganisms’ cell membrane, losing their functions (CDC, 2019a). In addition, the structure of the cell membrane is lost, and the organism collapses, resulting in its death.
Susceptible and Resistant Microorganism
Microorganisms have different degrees of susceptibility to disinfectants. Gram-positive bacteria have the highest level of susceptibility to chemicals, while microbes that are most resistant are mycobacteria. Gram-positive bacteria are organisms with peptidoglycan outer coverings that quickly absorb antibiotics and clean disinfectants, making killing them easy. On the flip side, a waxy cell surrounding the mycobacteria prevents disinfectants from entering the organism, making it difficult to eliminate (CDC, 2019). The waxy cell cover acts as a barrier for the organisms’ uptake of disinfectants.
Kirby-Bauer Method
The Kirby-Bauer test determines the choice of antibiotics preferable to treat infections. The experiment is commonly used to test antibiotic susceptibility. The me...