Performance evaluation of AlfredAST rapid susceptibility testing directly from positive blood cultures in the routine laboratory workflow.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the new automated system AlfredAST which is based on light scattering technology for rapid susceptibility testing directly from positive blood cultures as well as its applicability in the routine laboratory workflow. We evaluated 176 significant episodes of bacteremia due to 92 Gram-negative and 84 Gram-positive bacteria. The antimicrobial agents tested were ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and colistin for Gram negatives and cefoxitin, vancomycin, linezolid, and daptomycin for Gram positives.