minimum inhibitory concentration
Last reviewed 01/2018
The minimum inhibitory concentration is the minimum concentration of the antibacterial agent in a given culture medium below which bacterial growth is not inhibited.
The therapeutic index is thus given by the plasma or tissue toxic concentration divided by the MIC.
Care should be exercised in interpreting the MIC, since it is a culture definition. In tissues the situation may be altered - for example in abcesses the walls may be resistant to the passage of antibiotic.