Edition nccls

We are concerned that only Most other laboratories indicated the use of either chocolate agar or Mueller-Hinton plus chocolate agar. However, Mueller-Hinton agar might contain inhibitors of growth of gonococcal strains Several limitations exist in the present study. First, our study strictly assesses compliance with NCCLS guidelines and does not address their validity. Second, the data presented here are based on results reported to us, and we did not determine the actual practices used in each laboratory, address any errors made in filling out the questionnaire, or determine if the fact that the survey was included with proficiency test samples had an impact on their responses.

In addition, the rates of compliance reported in this study may be higher because of the two questions in which response choices overlapped temperature of incubation and length of incubation , and therefore, we accepted additional answers as compliance with NCCLS guidelines.

Therefore, one could argue that 16 to 18, 20 to 24, and 24 h should be considered acceptable, as antimicrobial susceptibility tests with other antimicrobial agents do not necessarily require the full h incubation period. However, As our study showed that the rate of compliance with NCCLS guidelines for susceptibility testing of these problem and fastidious organisms was suboptimal in some categories, we implemented several different follow-up approaches to improve susceptibility testing of these organisms.

After the survey was evaluated, written results from the questionnaire and abbreviated guidelines outlining the correct methodology for disk diffusion testing of each organism were distributed to all participants. Likewise, on three occasions after this survey was taken, educational information was provided to laboratories regarding AST of problem and fastidious organisms along with proficiency testing materials.

In addition, specific guidelines regarding the susceptibility testing of problem and fastidious organisms were incorporated into the Laboratory Standards for New York State Department of Health in September 28a. Lastly, the importance of reporting of antimicrobial resistance for several of these pathogens S. Although we believe that it is too early to assess the impact of these approaches, we plan to continue our emphasis on the need to use accurate and reliable susceptibility testing methods.

We acknowledge the valuable contributions of all NYS permitted laboratories for responding to the questionnaire. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List J Clin Microbiol v. J Clin Microbiol. Julia A. Kiehlbauch , 1 George E. George E. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Box , Albany, NY Phone: Fax: E-mail: gro. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract Accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing is vital for patient care and surveillance of emerging antimicrobial resistance. Data entry and analysis. Characteristic S. Open in a separate window. Laboratories must consult currently available guidelines from NCCLS to ensure that the methods used are in compliance with currently accepted guidelines. Tables from M2-A4 28 were considered outdated. Method No. Methods related to MIC testing are not included. Question and specific response a No.

In general these multiple responses were tabulated as separate responses and were considered in compliance if all responses were in compliance or are shown as other responses either if they contained combinations of responses in compliance and not in compliance with NCCLS guidelines or if none of the responses were in compliance.

Responses in italics were considered unevaluable as insufficient information was provided by the reporting laboratories. The percentage of laboratories shown here represents only those laboratories reporting the age of inoculum correlating with the guidelines used by the laboratory.

If all laboratories reporting an age of inoculum of either 16 to 18 h or 18 to 20 h are considered in compliance, then SXT, sulfamethoxazole. It is also recommended for monitoring M-H agar for unacceptable levels of inhibitors when testing trimethoprim or sulfonamides. Enterococcus species. Proficiency of clinical laboratories in Spain in detecting vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. Evaluation of interpretive criteria of agar dilution and disk diffusion susceptibility tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. Am J Clin Pathol.

Boyce J M. Reevaluation of the ability of the standardized disk diffusion test to detect methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. Report of a case and results of a clinical laboratory proficiency survey in Minnesota.

Temperature effect on the susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to four different cephalosporins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. Study to determine the ability of clinical laboratories to detect antimicrobial-resistant Enterococcus spp. The detection of penicillin-resistant pneumococci. The compliance of hospital laboratories with recommended methods.

Doern G V. In vitro susceptibility testing of Haemophilus influenzae : review of new National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards recommendations. Assessment of the oxacillin disk screening test for determining penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. In vitro susceptibility test practices with Haemophilus influenzae among College of American Pathologists survey participants in the United States. Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among respiratory tract isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in North America: results from the SENTRY antimicrobial surveillance program.

Clin Infect Dis. Fekete T. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and implications for epidemiology and therapy. Clin Microbiol Rev. Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the United States, — the emergence of decreased susceptibility to the fluoroquinolones.

J Infect Dis. Laboratory survey of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in New York City, — Emerg Infect Dis. False susceptibility of enterococci to aminoglycosides with blood-enriched Mueller-Hinton agar for disk susceptibility testing. The ability of participant laboratories to detect penicillin-resistant pneumococci. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing trends and accuracy in the United States. Arch Pathol Lab Med. Interlaboratory performance of disk agar diffusion and dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests, — Special topics in antimicrobial susceptibility testing: test accuracy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , pneumococci, and the sensitivity of beta-lactamase methods.

Jorgensen J H. Mechanisms of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and methods for laboratory detection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing: general principles and contemporary practices.

Development of interpretive criteria and quality control limits for broth microdilution and disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Emerging in vitro resistance to quinolones in penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains in Hawaii. Impact of prolonged incubation on disk diffusion susceptibility test results for Staphylococcus aureus.

National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Performance standards for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests. Approved standard M2-A6. Approved standard. Approved standard M2-A4. New York State Department of Health. Albany, N.

Laboratory reporting of communicable diseases. Variation from standards in Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility testing. Are clinical laboratories in California accurately reporting vancomycin-resistant enterococci?

Surveillance of susceptibility testing methodologies for Haemophilus influenzae in Canada, including evaluation of disk diffusion test. Screening pneumococci for penicillin resistance. Special phenotypic methods for detecting antibacterial resistance. Manual of clinical microbiology. Washington, D. Characterization of staphylococci with reduced susceptibilities to vancomycin and other glycopeptides.

Specifically, NCCLS was formed by a group of 31 individuals in an effort to standardize blood chemistry testing.

In December of the US Centers for Disease Control CDC distributed a new s release announcing the intention of representatives from scientific and professional groups and governme nt agencies to form a national committee on clinical laboratory standards.

NCCLS was formally organized in by representatives of the groups most affected by the rapid growth in laboratory technology of the s: laboratory professionals, the industries that supply and support them, and regulatory and non-regulatory governmental agencies, such as the CDC and US Food and Drug Administration FDA. The success of the committee has been built on two pillars: The consensus approach to standards development and the balance of representation by the professional organizations, the industry, and governmental agencies.

Fifty years after its inception , CLSI still follows the consensus approach, as well as ensuring an equal and fair balance of representatives from the professions, industry , and the government. View the October edition of Pathologist newsletter.

By , more than eighty standards had been written, more than standards p rojects were being carried out, and more than 1, clinical laboratory scientists had participated in NCCLS standards projects.

By this time the original three area committees of Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology had expanded to eight area committees spanning all major clinical labo ratory sciences.

Through successful standards projects NCCLS was able to document and advance state of the art processes and procedures in the field of laboratory medicine.

Through the cooperation of clinical microbiologists, laboratory industry professionals , and regulators, NCCLS standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing AST became a model for improving laboratory practice through voluntary consensus. M provides up-to-date AST breakpoi nts to laboratory professionals. This information helps health care providers treat their patients with the mo st ef fective antimicrobial drugs , as well as helping to slow antimicrobial resistance AMR. AMR is currently one of the top global health threats.

CLSI cont inues to publish M annually.