Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing - Why Monitoring and Trend Analysis Are Key

Laboratories must report cumulative antimicrobial sensitivity information to the medical staff at least annually under accreditation requirements from both the CAP and the Joint Commission. Despite requirements to do this at the institutional level, there is no national reporting or convenient way for the institution to monitor trends or compare rates recorded by other laboratories, explains Dr. Ron Schifman in this CAPcast interview. The CAP is introducing a new Quality Management Tools program to help participating laboratories enhance the value of their cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility report. Dr. Schifman is currently emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University of Arizona and a member of the CAP Quality Practices Committee. He is one of the architects of this new quality management program involving antimicrobial susceptibility.