title: Diagnostic microbiology in veterinary dermatology: present and future.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The microbiology laboratory can be perceived as a service provider rather than an integral part of the healthcare team.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to discuss the current challenges of providing a state-of-the-art diagnostic veterinary microbiology service including the identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of key pathogens in veterinary dermatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Study Group for Veterinary Microbiology (ESGVM) of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) identified scientific, technological, educational and regulatory issues impacting the predictive value of AST and the quality of the service offered by microbiology laboratories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The advent of mass spectrometry has significantly reduced the time required for ID of key pathogens such as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. However, the turnaround time for validated AST methods has remained unchanged for many years. Beyond scientific and technological constraints, AST methods are not harmonized and clinical breakpoints for some antimicrobial drugs are either missing or inadequate. Small laboratories, including in-clinic laboratories, are usually not adequately equipped to run up-to-date clinical microbiologic diagnostic tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESGVM recommends the use of laboratories employing mass spectrometry for ID and broth micro-dilution for AST, and offering assistance by expert microbiologists on pre- and post-analytical issues. Setting general standards for veterinary clinical microbiology, promoting antimicrobial stewardship, and the development of new, validated and rapid diagnostic methods, especially for AST, are among the missions of ESGVM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 334, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies.|Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guardabassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Damborg
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Vet·Med·Labor, Moerikestrasse 28/3, D-71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivonne
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Vet·Med·Labor, Moerikestrasse 28/3, D-71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Els M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Broens
authors.affiliation: UMR 1331 Toxalim INRA/INP, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, BP 87614, 31076, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Louis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Toutain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents