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Current Fungal Infection Reports
Published in: Current Fungal Infection Reports 1/2013

01-03-2013 | Current Management of Fungal Infections (L Ostrosky-Zeichner, Section Editor)

EUCAST and CLSI: Working Together Towards a Harmonized Method for Antifungal Susceptibility Testing

Authors: Ana Espinel-Ingroff, Manuel Cuenca-Estrella, Emilia Cantón

Published in: Current Fungal Infection Reports | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

The U.S. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the European Committee of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AFST-EUCAST) have developed broth microdilution methodologies for testing yeasts and filamentous fungi (molds). The mission of these methodologies is to identify in vitro antifungal resistance, which is accomplished by the use of either clinical breakpoints (CBPs), or to a lesser degree, epidemiologic cutoff values (ECVs). The newly adjusted and species-specific CLSI CBPs for Candida spp. versus fluconazole and voriconazole have ameliorated some of the differences between the two methodologies. In the absence of CBPs for mold testing, CLSI ECVs are available for six Aspergillus species versus the triazoles, caspofungin and amphotericin B. Recently, breakpoints were developed by the EUCAST for certain Aspergillus spp. versus amphotercin B, itraconazole and posaconazole, which to some extent are comparable to ECVs. We summarize these latest accomplishments, which have made possible the harmonization of some susceptibility cutoffs, if not methodologies for some agent/species combinations.
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Metadata
Title
EUCAST and CLSI: Working Together Towards a Harmonized Method for Antifungal Susceptibility Testing
Authors
Ana Espinel-Ingroff
Manuel Cuenca-Estrella
Emilia Cantón
Publication date
01-03-2013
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Fungal Infection Reports / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 1936-3761
Electronic ISSN: 1936-377X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-012-0125-7

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