Welcome to the FAQ page of the website for the BSAC Resistance Surveillance Project
Why were tigecycline MICs higher in 2002 than later years? We think this is an experimental artefact. Tigecycline is somewhat oxygen-labile, but this was not fully understood in 2002 when it was quite a new developmental agent. Its laboratory handling requirements were better understood from 2003 onwards, and the MICs obtained since then are more reliable. Can we include a link to this website in ours?
Yes, please do! (We would love to hear about it too - let us know using the address in the 'Contact Us' link.)
Why can't I get data on S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus after 2005?
These species are still included in the coagulase-negative staphylococci organism group. From 2006 onwards, coagulase-negative staphylococci were not identified to species level, so data on individual species are not available.
Help! The results seem to have changed since I last looked at the website. What is going on?
The most likely reason is that the breakpoints have changed, and therefore the percentage susceptible/intermediate/resistant has changed. Check the breakpoints link to see what breakpoints have been used at different times - they change at least annually.
Occasionally, we also need to make corrections to the data. A list of these changes will be made available on the web in the future. Meanwhile, if you are concerned about an apparent change, you can contact the Resistance Surveillance Co-ordinator using the address in the 'Contact Us' link. Please say which organism, season and summary you are asking about, and which antibiotics are involved.
How can I find out about METHICILLIN RESISTANCE and MRSA?
Methicillin resistance is now listed as a mechanism, so select Staphylococcus aureus or coagulase-negative staphylococci from the organism list and mechanisms from the summary list.
MRSA are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Methicillin is no longer available and oxacillin is tested in its place. We define isolates as methicillin resistant if they are resistant to oxacillin and/or test positive for the mecA gene in molecular tests. We began testing for mecA in 2005 for S. aureus and in 2006 for coagulase-negative staphylococci.
What is the correct form of CITATION for data from the website?
Please cite 'BSAC Bacteraemia Resistance Surveillance Programme' or 'BSAC Respiratory Resistance Surveillance Programme' as appropriate (or 'BSAC Resistance Surveillance Project', to cover both programmes) and give both the website address www.bsacsurv.org and the date you accessed the data here.
The primary journal articles describing the methodology of the two surveillance programmes are:
Reynolds, R., Shackcloth, J., Felmingham, D. et al. (2003). Antimicrobial susceptibility of lower respiratory tract pathogens in Great Britain and Ireland 1999-2001 related to demographic and geographical factors: the BSAC Respiratory Resistance Surveillance Programme. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 52, 931-943.
and
Reynolds, R., Potz, N., Colman, M. et al. (2004). Antimicrobial Susceptibility of the Pathogens of Bacteraemia in the UK and Ireland 2001 - 2002: the BSAC Bacteraemia Resistance Surveillance Programme. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 53, 1018-1032.
You can obtain copies of these articles through the ?publications? link.
Why do some antimicrobials APPEAR IN THE MIC SUMMARY BUT NOT IN THE SIR SUMMARY?
There are two possible reasons for this. One is that there is no breakpoint for the organism/antimicrobial combination, so it is not possible to classify isolates as susceptible/intermediate/resistant. Another is that the combination is excluded: for example, MRSA are considered to be resistant to all beta-lactams, so individual beta-lactams are not included in the SIR tables for S. aureus or MRSA, but are included for MSSA.
Is it possible to obtain these isolates to do FURTHER RESEARCH on them?
Yes. Use the 'Contact Us' link to let us know what you have in mind.
What ORGANISM / ANTIMICROBIAL COMBINATIONS are tested?
This varies slightly from year to year. Choose isolates from the summary list to see the number of isolates tested with each antimicrobial for your selected organism(s), year(s) and country.
Can I RE-USE THE MATERIAL for slide presentations and publications?
You are welcome to report the data presented here so long as you acknowledge the source. Please cite 'BSAC Bacteraemia Resistance Surveillance Programme' or 'BSAC Respiratory Resistance Surveillance Programme' as appropriate, plus the website address www.bsacsurv.org and the date you accessed the data here.
Can I COPY THE DATA onto my computer?
