This is a test whereby the bacterial pathogen of interest has been grown out and is mixed with patient's serum drawn at peak and trough levels and plated. The object is to achieve antibiotic serum levels which prevent growth of the pathogen at both peak and trough points in the dosing cycle (or at a point or two in time when on continuous IV infusion of antibiotic). This has the advantage of looking at the effect of antibiotic combinations.

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(posted 10 July 2001)