Antibiogram automatic reading with a micro-computer based image processing system

The system described here is devoted to the automatic reading of antibiograms. It is composed of a PC compatible microcomputer with an image processing card and a camera. The software has two parts: a relational database management program that manages easily configurable tables, and an image analysis program that automatically measures the inhibition zones. The results are given in millimetres, in minimum inhibitory concentration, and as significant, intermediate or resistant susceptibility. The measures are fast and accurate. The system makes possible the realization of real epidemiologic and nosocomial studies. The accuracy of the measurements allows the prediction of the resistance of the bacteria to different antibiotics.