title: Interpretive criteria for disk diffusion susceptibility testing of mupirocin, a topical antibiotic.
abstract: Five hundred gram-positive clinical bacterial isolates were tested for susceptibility to mupirocin by broth microdilution and disk diffusion methods (5- and 10-micrograms disks). All but 1 of 330 staphylococci (including 100 oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) were susceptible to less than or equal to 1.0 micrograms of mupirocin per ml. With a susceptible MIC breakpoint of less than or equal to 2.0 micrograms/ml, the corresponding zone diameter breakpoints were greater than or equal to 14 mm for 5-micrograms disks and greater than or equal to 16 mm for 10-micrograms disks. With either disk potency, susceptible staphylococci were effectively separated from more resistant gram-positive species such as the enterococci and gram-positive bacilli.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97225.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016712:Mupirocin; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D016712:Mupirocin