Towards harmonized methodologies in veterinary clinical bacteriology– outcomes of a European survey
Date Issued
2023-04
Author(s)
Timofte Dorina, Cvetkovikj Iskra, Zendri Flavia...and Damborg Peter
Abstract
Introduction: Veterinary microbiological diagnostic laboratories (VMDLs) play a key role in
antimicrobial stewardship by providing guidance for antimicrobial treatment and by contributing to
AMR surveillance.
Methods: The European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT)
has designed and distributed a survey aiming to map diagnostic methodologies across VMDLs in 34
European countries. The survey focused on practices and interpretive criteria used for bacteriological
culture and identification (C&ID), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of animal bacterial
pathogens.
Results: A total of 290 laboratories responded, representing a mixture of academic (39%),
governmental (33%), and private (28%) laboratories. Average C&ID turnaround varied from 1-2 days
(78%) to 3-5 days (20%), and 6-8 days (0.5%) with similar timeframes for AST. Biochemical ID
systems (e.g., API kits) were the most used (56%), followed by MALDI-TOF MS (46%). For AST,
Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion (DD) and MIC determination were conducted by 44% and 33% of
laboratories, respectively. A combination of EUCAST and CLSI clinical breakpoints (CBPs) was the
most common approach for interpretation of both DD (41%) and MIC (47%), whilst in some countries
(i.e., France) national guidelines were used. Fifty three percent of laboratories used human CBPs for
AST interpretation when veterinary breakpoints are lacking. Furthermore, 48% and 46% of VMDLs
routinely screened isolates for methicillin resistance and ESBL production, respectively.
Conclusions: A broad variety of methodologies were identified for C&ID and AST in European
VMDLs, which emphasizes the need to harmonise diagnostic methodologies to benefit rational
antimicrobial use and ultimately improve animal and public health
antimicrobial stewardship by providing guidance for antimicrobial treatment and by contributing to
AMR surveillance.
Methods: The European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT)
has designed and distributed a survey aiming to map diagnostic methodologies across VMDLs in 34
European countries. The survey focused on practices and interpretive criteria used for bacteriological
culture and identification (C&ID), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of animal bacterial
pathogens.
Results: A total of 290 laboratories responded, representing a mixture of academic (39%),
governmental (33%), and private (28%) laboratories. Average C&ID turnaround varied from 1-2 days
(78%) to 3-5 days (20%), and 6-8 days (0.5%) with similar timeframes for AST. Biochemical ID
systems (e.g., API kits) were the most used (56%), followed by MALDI-TOF MS (46%). For AST,
Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion (DD) and MIC determination were conducted by 44% and 33% of
laboratories, respectively. A combination of EUCAST and CLSI clinical breakpoints (CBPs) was the
most common approach for interpretation of both DD (41%) and MIC (47%), whilst in some countries
(i.e., France) national guidelines were used. Fifty three percent of laboratories used human CBPs for
AST interpretation when veterinary breakpoints are lacking. Furthermore, 48% and 46% of VMDLs
routinely screened isolates for methicillin resistance and ESBL production, respectively.
Conclusions: A broad variety of methodologies were identified for C&ID and AST in European
VMDLs, which emphasizes the need to harmonise diagnostic methodologies to benefit rational
antimicrobial use and ultimately improve animal and public health
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
2023_TOWARDS HARMONIZED METHODOLOGIES IN VETERINARY CLINICAL MICROBIOLLOGY page 36.pdf
Size
1.28 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):13481474cde62e7186b5e990a36c12a7