Final answer:
The sensitivity test, such as the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test, shows if bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics but does not distinguish between bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties. To identify these properties of antibiotics, MIC and MBC tests are necessary, which measure the lowest concentrations of antibiotics to inhibit growth or kill bacteria, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether antibiotics are bacteriostatic or bactericidal during a sensitivity test, one would need to go beyond the initial observations made in a Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. This test shows if bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics by measuring the zone of inhibition. A clear area where bacteria do not grow indicates susceptibility, but it does not inform whether the antibiotic is bacteriostatic or bactericidal.
For identifying those properties of antibiotics, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) need to be determined using dilution tests. The MIC is the lowest concentration at which an antibiotic inhibits visible growth of bacteria, and the MBC is the concentration that kills a specific percentage of the bacteria. These tests can differentiate bacteriostatic (which only inhibit growth) from bactericidal (which kill bacteria) effects.
Furthermore, plotting microbial death curves as a critical thinking exercise can illustrate differences in bacterial treatment outcomes related to bactericidal versus bacteriostatic treatments. While this information is critical for selecting appropriate therapies, especially for immunocompromised patients or severe infections, the initial Kirby-Bauer test is not sufficient alone to identify these properties of antibiotics.