Antimicrobial susceptibility testing breakpoints and methods from BSAC to EUCAST.

The BSAC Standing Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing is one of several European national breakpoint committees that agreed in 2002 to harmonize clinical MIC breakpoints. The process of harmonization has since been completed for commonly used agents, and breakpoints for new agents have been set by EUCAST in accordance with a procedure defined by the EMA. EUCAST breakpoints have now been adopted by a large majority of laboratories in Europe.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a novel mecA homologue in human and bovine populations in the UK and Denmark: a descriptive study.

Background: Animals can act as a reservoir and source for the emergence of novel meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones in human beings. Here, we report the discovery of a strain of S aureus (LGA251) isolated from bulk milk that was phenotypically resistant to meticillin but tested negative for the mecA gene and a preliminary investigation of the extent to which such strains are present in bovine and human populations.

Methods: Isolates of bovine MRSA were obtained from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the UK, and isolates of human MRSA were obtained from diagnostic or reference laboratories (two in the UK and one in Denmark).

Comparison of methods to test antibiotic combinations against heterogeneous populations of multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with acute infective exacerbations in cystic fibrosis.

Multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates can chronically infect patients with cystic fibrosis. Acute infective exacerbations are treated with combinations of two antipseudomonal antibiotics. Patients may respond clinically even if the bacteria are resistant, possibly due to antimicrobial synergy.

Non-susceptibility trends among enterococci and non-pneumococcal streptococci from bacteraemias in the UK and Ireland, 2001-06.

Objectives: To describe the current patterns and trends in antimicrobial susceptibility in enterococci and streptococci (excepting pneumococci) from bacteraemia in the UK and Ireland from 2001 to 2006.

Methods: In each year 2001-06, blood culture isolates were collected by 25 laboratories distributed across the UK and Ireland. In total, there were 1408 isolates of enterococci, 1332 of beta-haemolytic streptococci and 1012 of alpha- and non-haemolytic streptococci.

Clinical severity of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027: a case-case study.

Background: Clostridium difficile is a leading infectious cause of health care associated diarrhoea. Several industrialised countries have reported increased C. difficile infections and outbreaks, which have been attributed to the emergent PCR ribotype 027 strain.

Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis and susceptibility testing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

These evidence-based guidelines have been produced after a literature review of the laboratory diagnosis and susceptibility testing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We have considered the detection of MRSA in screening samples and the detection of reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides in S. aureus.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of community-acquired respiratory tract pathogens in the UK during 2002/3 determined locally and centrally by BSAC methods.

Objectives: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae causing community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection in the UK during 2002/2003 and to compare susceptibilities determined locally by disc diffusion with agar dilution MICs determined at a central laboratory.

Methods: H. influenzae, M.

Evaluation of selective and enrichment media for isolation of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci from faecal specimens.

Objectives: Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus enrichment broth (VEB) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus selective agar with vancomycin 6 mg/L (VSA) are novel azide-aesculin agar-based media that contain meropenem as an additional selective agent. The media were compared with enterococcosel broth (EB) and enterococcosel agar with vancomycin 6 mg/L (EA) for the isolation of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) from routine faecal screening specimens.

Methods: Two hundred and eighteen routine faecal screening specimens from patients at Addenbrooke's Hospital were examined.