CLSI Publishes New Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Standard.

WAYNE, Pa. -- CLSI has recently published the annual update of the well-known antimicrobial susceptibility testing standard, Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; Seventeenth Informational Supplement (M100-S17), which provides updates of the latest recommendations for detecting emerging resistance of aerobic bacteria--arranged in tabular format. The "breakpoints" included in the supplement are defined as specific values on the basis of which bacteria can be assigned to the clinical categories of susceptible, intermediate, or resistant. This essential information assists clinicians with drug selection, interpretation, and quality control using the procedures standardized in CLSI documents Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk Susceptibility Tests; Approved Standard--Ninth Edition (M2-A9); and Methods for Dilution Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests for Bacteria That Grow Aerobically; Approved Standard--Seventh Edition (M7-A7).

Janet F. Hindler, MCLS, MT(ASCP), Senior Specialist, Clinical Microbiology, UCLA Medical Center, explains, "For over three decades, NCCLS and now CLSI consensus standards have been the primary resources for antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the clinical laboratory. The annual updates provide the most current recommendations to ensure accurate detection and reporting of emerging resistance."

This edition of the supplement includes updated tables from CLSI's disk (M2-A9) susceptibility and MIC (M7-A7) testing standards. In addition, the document provides three pages of adhesive index tabs, which can be inserted for quick access to each table.

Updates include:

* new disk diffusion and MIC interpretive criteria for colistin and polymyxin B;

* new antimicrobial agents and QC ranges;

* preparation of stock solutions for antimicrobial agents provided with activity expressed as units;

* added information on the development of resistance and testing of repeat isolates;

* modified recommendations for testing and reporting designated clusters of agents with similar interpretive results and clinical efficacy;

* recommendations for reporting critical results; and

* suggestions for verification and confirmation of susceptibility testing results for Neisseria meningitidis.

For additional information on CLSI or for further information regarding this release, visit our website at http://www.clsi.org or call +610.688.0100.

CLSI is a global, nonprofit, membership-based organization dedicated to developing standards and guidelines for the healthcare and medical testing community. CLSI's unique consensus process facilitates the creation of standards and guidelines that are reliable, practical, and achievable for an effective quality system.