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LIMS Admin Antibiotics
The antibiotic master list defines which antibiotics are available for sensitivity testing in microbiology reports. Each antibiotic in the master list can be added to the antibiotic panel of a microbiology investigation. This article explains how to manage the antibiotic master list and link antibiotics to investigations.
Go to Menu > Admin > LIMS > Metadata > Antibiotics (or Manage Metadata > Manage Antibiotics).
The screen lists all antibiotics currently in the system.
- Click Add Antibiotic.
- Fill in the following fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The full antibiotic name (e.g., "Amoxicillin", "Ciprofloxacin", "Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole") |
| Short Name / Code | Abbreviated label used on reports and panels (e.g., "AMX", "CIP", "SXT") |
| Antibiotic Class | The class the antibiotic belongs to (e.g., Beta-lactam, Fluoroquinolone, Folate antagonist) — for reference and grouping purposes |
| Description | Optional clinical notes (e.g., route of administration, spectrum, common uses) |
- Click Save.
After creating the antibiotic master records, link them to the relevant microbiology investigation:
- Go to Menu > Admin > LIMS > Investigations.
- Open the microbiology investigation (e.g., "Urine Culture & Sensitivity").
- Go to the Items tab.
- Add an item with type Antibiotic List — this is the container group for all antibiotics on this panel.
- Within the Antibiotic List item, add individual items with type Antibiotic — one for each antibiotic to be tested.
- Select the corresponding antibiotic from the master list for each item.
- Set the Order Number to control the display sequence on the report.
- Save.
Different specimen types and clinical contexts warrant different antibiotic panels. Common panel designs:
| Specimen / Infection type | Typical antibiotics included |
|---|---|
| Urine C&S | Amoxicillin, Co-amoxiclav, Trimethoprim, Nitrofurantoin, Ciprofloxacin, Cephalexin, Gentamicin |
| Blood Culture | Amoxicillin, Flucloxacillin, Gentamicin, Vancomycin, Piperacillin-Tazobactam, Meropenem, Linezolid |
| Wound Swab C&S | Amoxicillin, Flucloxacillin, Clindamycin, Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin, Trimethoprim |
| Sputum C&S | Amoxicillin, Co-amoxiclav, Azithromycin, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Piperacillin-Tazobactam |
Design the panel in consultation with the clinical microbiology team and the hospital's infection control committee. The panel should reflect the antibiotics actually available at the institution and clinically relevant for each specimen type.
- To edit: open the antibiotic record and update the fields. Changes reflect in new reports; approved historical reports are not affected.
- To retire: mark the antibiotic as inactive. It no longer appears in new investigation panels or result entry screens, but historical sensitivity results remain intact.
Caution: Retiring an antibiotic that is currently included in an active investigation panel will remove it from new reports for that investigation. Verify before retiring.
For a clinical overview of commonly used antibiotics and their spectrum of activity, see Overview of Commonly Used Antibiotics and Their Applications.