Which of the following best describes the pattern of microbial death? Which of the following best describes the pattern of microbial death? The pattern varies depending on the species. Not all of the cells in a culture are killed. The cells in a population die at a constant rate. All the cells in a culture die at once. The pattern varies depending on the antimicrobial agent.

The cells in a population die at a constant rate

Explanation:

Microbial death is the loss of the ability of microbes to reproduce and survive in an environment. When a given microbial population is given a treatment, the microbial cells die at a constant rate. Microbial death rate is not dependent on the specie and nor on the antimicrobial agent.

Therefore, the microbial cells in a population does not die at once but die at a constant logarithmic rate; the cells decreases exponentially as nutrients decreases and waste product increases.

For example, if 500,000 microbes are treated or in a nutrient depleted environment and 50,000 microbes is left after 1 minute, by the next minute under the same condition 5,000 microbial cells will be left and this pattern will continue, this explains exponential decrease