The growth of Escherichia coli in synthetic medium was mathematically analysed at subinhibitory levels of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics. Over a threshold of concentration, bactericidal antibiotics induce an unexpected change of growth pattern. Bacteriostatic antibiotics induce a progressive effect linked to a continuously altered growth pattern that still remains close to the controls. This fundamental differential of antibiotic effects is reflecting well-known bacteriostatic or bactericidal phenomena. In vitro this analysis of the growth enables to measure the level of the antibiotic sensitivity. In vivo, these results must be taken into account when subinhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agent are reached at the infection site.