The situation:   I've had two positive cultures for S.maltophilia
taken from my eyelid.  It has proven resistant to chloramphenicol, 
and the infection is bad.  I may have one chance and one chance only
to get rid of the bacteria, since it is very adaptable.  I would like
a culture/sensitivity test prescribed to determine which antibiotics
are likely to be most effective against it.   If you were discussing
this case with another physician who had NEVER prescribed a
culture/sensitivity test before, what medical terminology would you
use?  Where would my doctor send me for such a test not commonly done?

culture and sensitivity is absolutely routine: if you had a culture
that showed the organism, it ought to have had sensitivities done as
well. If you haven't yet seen an opthamologist, that's what you ought
to consider doing. Any doctor who has ever treated any sort of
infection ought to know what ordering culture and sensitivity means.

Hello,
Any physician should understand what culture and sensitivity means. 
It should be routinely done on most cultures.  Some labs may need a
call from your physician to ensure that proper sensitivities were
performed.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.