CLSI Publishes New Veterinary Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Document—VET09— Understanding Susceptibility Test Data as a Component of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings

Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA—The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute has published the first edition of VET09—Understanding Susceptibility Test Data as a Component of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings. VET09 provides veterinarians with the information needed to successfully acquire and interpret antimicrobial susceptibility test results. It promotes common understanding between the veterinarian and the veterinary microbiology laboratory by providing example culture and susceptibility reports and animal species–specific guidance on applying breakpoints to interpret susceptibility test results.

This report includes general guidance on how to apply pharmacological principles to selection and use of antimicrobial agents and how to get the best information from the laboratory, starting with submitting an animal specimen for culture through receiving the laboratory report with AST results. Basic components of a laboratory report and specific examples with AST results are included with commentary on the information reported, as well as different presentations that clinicians may receive from different laboratories. There is also an overview of regulatory and legal considerations for antimicrobial agents. Finally, separate chapters are included that focus on AST results interpretations applied to different animal species: dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, and fish.

For more information about VET09, contact Patrick McGinn at pmcginn@clsi.org or +1.484.588.5933.  

CLSI sets the standard for quality in medical laboratory testing. A not-for-profit membership organization, CLSI brings together the global laboratory community for the advancement of a common cause: to foster excellence in laboratory medicine.   

For over 50 years, our members, volunteers, and customers have made CLSI a respected, transformative leader in the development and implementation of medical laboratory testing standards. Through our unified efforts, we will continue to set and uphold the standards that drive quality test results, enhance patient care delivery, and improve health care around the world.  

By using CLSI standards, laboratorians can improve process quality, speed the development of standard operating procedures, and implement safer practices with greater ease and efficiency.