16 - 19 September 2014, Linz, Austria

Course Objectives

• Explain the process of EUCAST breakpoint definition, understand the rationale for EUCAST clinical breakpoints including the PK/PD approach, and explain implementation of EUCAST breakpoints.
• Perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing by dilution, diffusion and automatic techniques with a EUCAST perspective, and differences from the CLSI approach.
• Understand the application of EUCAST expert rules for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
• Explain antimicrobial surveillance systems (public versus private) and benefits for establishment of antimicrobial guidelines and the design of antibiotic policies.
• Understand the importance of epidemiological cut-off values (ECOFFs) and clinical breakpoints in antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems.
• Understand how ECOFFs are determined.
• Discuss adequate strategies to implement EUCAST breakpoints and methodology in the single laboratory setting as well as in a national context.
• Explain the importance of harmonised methodology for antimicrobial resistance surveillance purposes from a European point of view.
• Discuss the application of clinical breakpoints at patient level.

Course Venue

Forte – Fortbildungszentrum Elisabethinen Linz
Museumstrasse 31

and

analyse BioLab
Eisenhandstrasse 4 – 6
4020 Linz
Austria
www.analyse.eu

Target Audience

Up to 26 clinical microbiologists with an interest in antimicrobial susceptibility testing and surveillance. Representatives from National Antimicrobial Committees (NACs) will have priority over other applicants for participation in this course (a letter supporting the application from the President or Secretariat of the corresponding NAC will be necessary to demonstrate this representation).

Dr Petra Apfalter
Institut für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie
und Tropenmedizin
Krankenhaus der Elisabethinen Linz
Fadingerstrasse 1
4020 Linz
Austria

Phone +43 664 885 48 940
Fax +43 732 781 99 130
petra.apfalter[at]analyse.eu

Administrative Secretariat

Marlene Parzer
analyse BioLab
Eisenhandstrasse 4 – 6
4020 Linz
Austria

Phone +43 732 781 991 221
Fax +43 732 781 99 130
marlene.parzer[at]analyse.eu

Presentations are availabe in the ESCMID Online Lecture Library.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014 (at Forte)

15:00 Arrival, documentation and coffee
15:30 Welcome and presentation of the course. Petra Apfalter, Rafael Cantón,                 Christian Giske & Johan W. Mouton
15:40 EUCAST in Europe and beyond. Gunnar Kahlmeter
16:10 Setting breakpoints for EUCAST. Johan W. Mouton
16:50 Wild type MIC distributions and ECOFFs. Gunnar Kahlmeter
17:30 Breakpoints: why EUCAST and not CLSI? Derek Brown
17:45 Local, national and international surveillance systems for antimicrobial                  resistance. Christian Giske
19:00 Reception dinner

Wednesday, 17 September 2014 (at Forte & analyse BioLab)

09:00 Quality assurance of susceptibility testing. Derek Brown
09:40 EUCAST expert rules. Rafael Cantón
10:20 Break
10:45 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing: dilution methods.
           Luis Martínez-Martínez
11:25 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing: diffusion methods. Erika Matuschek
12:05 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing: automatic systems. Rafael Cantón
12:45 Lunch (catering at Forte)
13:45 Laboratory sessions: microdilution, gradient tests and disk diffusion.

Thursday, 18 September 2014 (at Forte & analyse BioLab)

09:00 Phenotypic detection and characterisation of cephalosporin- and                              carbapenemresistance in Gram-negative microorganisms. Rainer Hartl
09:40 Genotypic methods for detection of resistance. Sören Gatermann
10:20 Break
10:45 Staphylococcus aureus: susceptibility testing of anti-staphylococcal                        agents. Robert Skov
11:15 Clinical implications of “report as tested”. Jesús Rodríguez-Baño
12:05 Are EUCAST breakpoints valid for all patients? To be decided
12:45 Lunch (catering at Forte)
13:45 Laboratory sessions: microdilution, e-test, disk diffusion and                                     automatic systems.

Friday, 19 September 2014 (at Forte)

08:30 Decision made to switch to EUCAST: how to reorganise your lab?
           Erika Matuschek
09:10 Decision made to switch to EUCAST: how to change your country?
           Petra Apfalter
09:50 Break
10:10 Attendees’ oral presentations
12:45 How EUCAST guidance strengthens surveillance of AMR in the                                 European Union: the ECDC public health perspective. Marc Struelens
13:30 Closing and farewell lunch at Forte

• Petra Apfalter, Linz, Austria
• Derek Brown, Peterborough, United Kingdom
• Rafael Cantón, Madrid, Spain
• Sören Gatermann, Bochum, Germany
• Christian Giske, Stockholm, Sweden
• Rainer Hartl, Linz, Austria
• Sandra Höller, Linz, Austria
• Gunnar Kahlmeter, Växjö, Sweden
• Heidrun Kerschner, Linz, Austria
• Luis Martínez-Martínez, Santander, Spain
• Erika Matuschek, Växjö, Sweden
• Johan W. Mouton, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
• Christiane Müllner, Linz, Austria
• Jesús Rodríguez-Baño, Seville, Spain
• Robert Skov, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Mark Struelens, Stockholm, Sweden