Basic principles of reading and understanding antibiograms for attending physicians

Abstract

Introduction: Bacterial resistance threatens the effectiveness of all available antibiotics at present.  Interpretive reading of the antibiogram emerges as a key element for an optimal use of these unique drugs as part of the actions for the improvement of antimicrobial use.

Objective:  To present basic ideas directed to attending physicians from centers with basic microbiology resources at their disposal, after an interpretive reading of the antibiogram.

Material and Methods: A systematic search on MEDLINE database was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines.  A search on the Scientific Electronic Virtual Library Online – SciELO was used for the articles published in Cuban magazines.

Results: The review is focused mainly to two groups of bacteria: Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli, making an emphasis on the results that can be obtained with the resources, which are available in most laboratories of the country. Cases where the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration is of extreme importance to obtain satisfactory results regarding the patients´ evolution are also pointed out.  In addition, some therapeutic alternatives for multi-resistant germs are presented.

Conclusions: To turn the interpretive reading of the antibiogram into a daily act is an extremely urgent need that requires, besides the basic knowledge, a close relationship between the clinician and the microbiology lab, as well as a group of basic resources such as key antibiotics discs.

Keywords: Antibiogram, Interpretive Reading, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacterial Drug Resistance, Beta-lactamases, Antibiotics Policy.