Lab update: Culture, susceptibility reporting changes

Effective Dec. 11, 2023, two culture and susceptibility reporting updates were made at Peaks Region laboratories:

Update 1: Organism name updated

An update was made to the organism’s name for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is now reported as the organism’s identification rather than the Staphylococcus aureus with a comment indicating the organism is MRSA. The organism’s name will be updated to the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus upon completion of the susceptibility testing, meaning Staphylococcus aureus will be reported until susceptibility testing has confirmed the MRSA. Comments for MRSA screen will still be reported on the organism while susceptibility testing is in progress and will remain in the final verified report.

See example below:

Update 2: Beta-lactamase testing now reported as susceptibility test

Beta-lactamase testing is now reported as a susceptibility test instead of a comment underneath the organism’s name in the culture results.

See example below:

Please contact your local Microbiology Department with any questions regarding the updated organism name or beta-lactamase result reporting.