title: The role of the laboratory in choosing antibiotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest problem in medicine at the beginning of the third millennium. Antibiotic resistance is frequently associated with significant morbidity, longer hospitalization, excess costs and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this work we discussed the role of clinical microbiology laboratory as an essential part for an effective infection control program, especially in management and treatment of "difficult infections".
  
  
  RESULTS
  At present time, laboratory personnel have a broad range of new technologies that they can use to support and enhance the efforts of the infection control staff. In addition a network of established experts in the determination of antimicrobial breakpoints and in antimicrobial susceptibility testing has been constituted in Europe under the auspices of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualified personnel and new strategies to overcome drug resistance can contribute to solve the microbial infections problems.
authors: Clinical-Microbiological Laboratory, University Polyclinic, Cagliari, Italy. coghe.f@tiscali.it
authors: Ferdinando
authors: F
authors: Coghe
authors: Germano
authors: G
authors: Orrù
authors: Marisa
authors: M
authors: Pautasso
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Ferraguti
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Sanna
authors: Vassilios
authors: V
authors: Fanos
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018579:Patient Selection
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents