MALVERN, PA — The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has announced the release of significant updates to its cornerstone documents on antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), marking a pivotal advancement in the fight against infectious diseases. The updated editions include CLSI M100 (34th Edition), CLSI M02 (14th Edition), and CLSI M07 (12th Edition), which together provide the latest recommended practices for determining microbial susceptibility to antibiotics.
These updates are particularly timely, as antimicrobial resistance continues to pose a growing threat to global health, complicating the treatment of common infectious diseases and increasing the risk of outbreak, severe illness, and death. By providing the most current criteria for drug selection, interpretation, and quality control, the revised standards ensure that microbiology laboratories, antimicrobial stewardship teams, and infectious disease specialists are equipped with essential tools for accurate testing and patient safety.
James S. Lewis II, PharmD, FIDSA, chair of the Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing at CLSI, emphasized the importance of the annual update. “The annual update of M100 is key to ensuring that labs are providing their clinicians and stewardship teams with the most up-to-date susceptibility criteria for patient care,” he said. This underscores the critical role of timely and precise AST in guiding effective treatment decisions and combating antimicrobial resistance.
Among the notable changes in this year’s updates are a significant reorganization of dosage recommendations, the addition of sulbactam-durlobactam to breakpoints, and the introduction of a new Table 2A-2 for Salmonella and Shigella. These adjustments reflect ongoing efforts to refine AST practices in response to emerging data and the evolving landscape of infectious diseases.
To facilitate the adoption of these updates, CLSI is offering package pricing for the new documents. Additionally, the institute will host an educational webinar on April 17, 2024, designed to help users navigate the major changes, implement the new standards effectively, and communicate these critical updates to clinical staff.
The implications of these updates extend beyond individual laboratories and healthcare facilities. By ensuring that AST methods keep pace with the latest scientific developments, CLSI’s revised standards contribute to a broader strategy for managing antimicrobial resistance. This includes optimizing the use of existing antibiotics, informing the development of new antimicrobial agents, and ultimately safeguarding public health.
As the healthcare industry continues to grapple with the challenges of antimicrobial resistance, the updated CLSI standards represent an invaluable resource for professionals dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care. Through rigorous testing and adherence to the latest guidelines, healthcare providers can make more informed treatment decisions, reducing the spread of resistant infections and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.
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