EUCAST Guidelines

25 February 2020

SA Pathology uses guidelines from the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) to perform and interpret our antibiotic susceptibility testing.

EUCAST develops breakpoints for “susceptible” and “resistant” results, assuming clinicians are prescribing certain antibiotic doses. These predetermined antibiotic dosages are becoming increasingly important due to EUCAST’s redefinition of the “I” category from “intermediate” to “susceptible, increased exposure”.

This category is for organisms where there is a high likelihood of therapeutic success because exposure to the antibiotic is increased by increasing the dosage, or the antibiotic concentrates at the site of infection (eg B-lactam antibiotics in the urinary tract).

SA Pathology will transition to the new “I” definition when the necessary computing changes are made. In addition to a standard dose, the EUCAST dosage tables include a “high dose” and an “uncomplicated UTI” dose for use when an “I” result is obtained.

SA Pathology encourages clinicians to read the tables, for further information, please contact one of our consultant microbiologists on 08 8222 3000.

Link to Dosages v11.0