THE ENOVAT SURVEY ON CURRENT METHODOLOGIES USED FOR BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING IN EUROPEAN VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES

Timofte Dorina, Cvetkovikj Iskra, Zendri Flavia, Blum Shlomo, Stritov Zrinka, Zdovc Irena.....and Damborg Peter

THE ENOVAT SURVEY ON CURRENT METHODOLOGIES USED FOR BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING IN EUROPEAN VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES

Date Issued

2022-09

Author(s)

Timofte Dorina, Cvetkovikj Iskra, Zendri Flavia, Blum Shlomo, Stritov Zrinka, Zdovc Irena.....and Damborg Peter

Abstract

Veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) play a key role in the identification of infectious agents and antimicrobial stewardship. However, there is still a lack of harmonisation of methodologies and procedures used in European VDLs (1,2). Methods: The European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT) designed a survey, which was distributed via a online platform to VDLs in 34 European countries. The survey focused on practices and interpretive criteria used for culture and identification (C&ID), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of veterinary bacterial pathogens. Results: Two hundred and ninety laboratories responded, representing a mixture of academic (39%), government (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%). For AST, similar time frames were achieved by 63%, 60%, and 0.5% of VDLs, respectively. Only 57% of laboratories attempted bacterial ID to species level. 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 was most commonly used for interpretation of both DD (41%) and MIC (47%). Only 48% and 46% of VDLs routinely screened isolates for methicillin resistance and ESBL production, respectively. Conclusion: A variety of methodologies were identified for C&ID and AST in European VDLs. Our results emphasize the need to harmonise diagnostic methodologies to benefit rational antibiotic use and ultimately improve animal and public health.

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