What is the Role of the Microbiology Laboratory in Combating Antibiotic Resistance?
The microbiology laboratory plays several key roles in combating antibiotic resistance that include: • Rapid, accurate antibiotic susceptibility testing using standardized methods • Selective reporting of only those drugs that have been demonstrated to be clinically effective against a particular type of bacteria or infection • Reporting of ARO problems to the Infection Control program • Monitoring and tracking ARO trends amongst important pathogens • Compilation and publication of regular antibiogram data • Implementation of antibiotic susceptibility tests for new antibiotics as required • Monitoring global trends in ARO development • Research and development of new antibiotic susceptibility testing methods Physicians often call the microbiology laboratory requesting that drug X be tested against bug Y because the patients is already on therapy. However, the laboratory has comprehensive policies and procedures in place that dictate which drug profile will be reported in all bug/drug s
