What it means
In a culture and sensitivity test, the lab grows the germ from a sample and tests which antibiotics kill it, so the right drug can be chosen. In screening, a test with high sensitivity misses few people who have the disease. In everyday care, sensitivity can also mean an allergy-like reaction, as in a latex sensitivity.
For the nurse
Collect culture samples before the first dose of antibiotic, and check whether the ordered antibiotic matches the sensitivity results when they come back.
At a glance
| Spanish | sensibilidad |
|---|---|
| Also written | sensitivities |
Related terms
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
hypersensitivity
An overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is usually harmless.
microbiology
The study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites; also the lab that tests for them.