Ann Lab Med.  2023 Sep;43(5):443-450. 10.3343/alm.2023.43.5.443.

European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing-Recommended Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus From Positive Blood Culture Bottles

• Park JM
• Kwon M
• Hong KH
• Lee H
• Yong D

• KMID: 2551992
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2023.43.5.443

Abstract

Background
Early diagnosis and treatment are important for a good prognosis of bloodstream infections. The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) recommends rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (RAST) based on the disk diffusion methodology for 4, 6, and 8 hours of incubation. We evaluated EUCAST-RAST of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus from positive blood culture bottles.
Methods
Twenty strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus were tested using EUCAST-RAST. Ten antimicrobial agents against E. coli and K. pneumoniae and four agents against S. aureus were tested. The diameter of the inhibition zone (mm) was compared with the minimal inhibitory concentration (μg/mL) obtained using the Sensititre AST system (TREK Diagnostic Systems, East Grinstead, UK).
Results
For E. coli, the percentage of total categorical agreement (CA) was 69.5% at 4 hours, and 87% at 8 hours. For K. pneumoniae, the total CA was 89% at 4 hours, and 95.5% at 6 hours. For S. aureus, the total CA was 100% after 4 hours. Discrepancies were observed mainly for E. coli with β-lactam antimicrobial agents, and the numbers of errors decreased over time.
Conclusions
EUCAST-RAST for K. pneumoniae and S. aureus met the United States Food and Drug Administration criteria at 6 and 4 hours, respectively, whereas that for E. coli did not meet the criteria for up to 8 hours. RAST can shorten the turn-around testing time by more than one day; therefore, if applied accurately according to laboratory conditions, antimicrobial agent results can be reported faster.

Keyword

Sepsis; European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing; Microbial sensitivity test; Categorical agreement; United States Food and Drug Administration; Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Staphylococcus aureus

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