Standardised procedures can improve the validity of susceptibility testing of uropathogenic bacteria in general practice

Abstract

Objective - To investigate whether the validity of susceptibility testing in general practice would improve when preceded by an intervention. Intervention - Instruction in standardised susceptibility testing procedures given by laboratory instructors. Method - Urine specimens containing monocultures of typical uropathogenic bacteria were sent to 23 general practices before and after the intervention. Practices performed susceptibility testing by the Sensicult and the Iso-Res agar methods and the validity of the results before and after the intervention was compared. Results from susceptibility testing at the bacteriological laboratory, Odense University Hospital, were used as gold standard. Results - The median frequency of correct results increased from 82% to 98% for susceptibility testing based on Sensicult (p = 0.001) and from 90% to 96% based on Iso-Res agar (p = 0.05). Conclusion - The validity of susceptibility testing in general practice improves when preceded by instruction in standardised procedures.