Bactericidal testing.

Recognition of the importance of bactericidal activity in certain clinical settings has generated a great deal of interest in bactericidal testing. Indeed, bactericidal testing can be of great use in a number of settings, but it also has the potential for being overutilized. Moreover, there are biologic and technical pitfalls inherent in bactericidal testing. This article addresses these issues and summarizes the progress toward standardization of these methods. Thoughtful and deliberate application of standardized bactericidal testing should make this controversial test much more useful in the future.