Evaluation of effectiveness of a continuing education program on antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a course designed to increase use of the most recently published Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and reporting.


METHODS
A one-day continuing education course in AST was designed and delivered at multiple sites. Data collected from course evaluations, pre- and post-tests, and pre- and post-practices assessments were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training.


METHODS
The same course was held in 31 cities across the United States (US).


METHODS
Clinical laboratory scientists who attended the courses.


METHODS
Participant satisfaction; AST knowledge; number of labs using most recent CLSI standards; compliance with 28 specific CLSI AST recommendations.


RESULTS
Data indicate a high level of participant satisfaction, a gain in AST knowledge, an increase in the number of laboratories acquiring the most recently published CLSI guidelines, and improvement in 4 of 28 specific AST practices.
Rosner
Eunice R
ER
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Atlanta GA, USA.
Mulawski
Karen K
KK
Willis
Jane R
JR
Lipman
Harvey B
HB
Boone
Alice S
AS
Hindler
Janet F
JF
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States