Table I.
Differences in breakpoints between seven breakpoint committees before the harmonization process.
| E. coli versus cefotaxime | E. coli versus gentamicin | %R in EARSSa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S≤/R> | S≤/R> | ||
| BSAC (United Kingdom) | 2/2 | 1/1 | 14.3% |
| CA-SFM (France) | 4/32 | 4/8 | 1.9% |
| CRG (Netherlands) | 4/8 | 1/4 | 3.3% |
| DIN (Germany) | 2/8 | 1/4 | 3.3% |
| NCCLS (CLSI) (USA) | 8/32 | 4/4 | 3.3% |
| NWGA (Norway) | 1/2 | 2/4 | 3.3% |
| SRGA (Sweden) | 0.5/1 | 2/2 | 8.1% |
| EUCASTb | 1/2 | 2/4 | 3.3% |
a
From some countries, MIC values were obtained as part of the activities in the European Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS), organized by EU and run by the Dutch institute RIVM (Bilthoven, the Netherlands). Resistance based on the various gentamicin breakpoints used by countries taking part in EARSS is shown to illustrate the effect on resistance surveillance that different breakpoints may have.
b
EUCAST breakpoints, as a result of the EUCAST process for harmonization of breakpoints (finalized for gentamicin in April 2004 and for cefotaxime March 2006).