Susceptible, intermediate, and resistant - the intensity of antibiotic action.
BACKGROUND
To date, the resistance of infectious agents has been assessed by widely varying criteria in different countries. Therefore, published data on resistance often cannot be meaningfully compared. In Germany, different laboratories can potentially report different results for identical microorganisms, since there is no uniform system for categorization. This situation is unsatisfactory.


METHODS
Selective literature review and evaluation of committee reports.


RESULTS
The new ISO standard 20776 for determination of the resistance of infectious agents and the harmonized evaluation system of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases provide a new basis for susceptibility testing. The categorization of infectious agents as "susceptible," "intermediate," or "resistant" to particular antibiotics will become more reliable and will be consistent throughout Europe.


CONCLUSIONS
For a number of antibiotics, the criteria for evaluation of infectious agents as "susceptible," "intermediate", or "resistant" will change. Comparability with earlier resistance data will be compromised. However, the new evaluation criteria reflect current knowledge on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial substances.
Rodloff
Arne
A
Bauer
Torsten
T
Ewig
Santiago
S
Kujath
Peter
P
Müller
Eckhard
E