why a culture test should be done before taking antibiotic therapy

Many times, it happens that an antibiotic drug does not produce expected results or its effects differ upon different people, it may happen because there may be a variety of strength among germs. Some germs get evolved in such a way that existing drugs get useless upon them. While more important fact is that unnecessary antibiotic therapies are making germs more and more resistant.

A culture test is a test, in which a sample is taken from a patient which is tested for causative agents(germs), moreover these germs are then tested against different antibiotics. In this way the antibiotic, which suits best is picked for therapy.

So by conducting a culture test it is found that, which drug is most appropriate in a specific case, and also it ensures maximum chances of recovery. On the other hand a therapy given without a culture test has chances, either it would work or not. In case if drug does not work upon a specific germ at its best, it would make it more resistant and stronger.

These stronger germs are becoming a huge threat for medical system. More and more antibiotic drugs are getting useless and its a hot issue now that how these emerging resistant germs would be treated in future.

Possible solutions may be:

• A culture test should be done before any antibiotic therapy
• If a therapy is started, it must be completed
• professional counselling to patients before starting an antibiotic therapy