The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing - EUCAST

EUCAST is a standing committee jointly organized by ESCMID, ECDC and European national breakpoint committees. EUCAST deals with breakpoints and technical aspects of phenotypic in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing and functions as the breakpoint committee of EMEA and ECDC.

EUCAST does not deal with antibiotic policies, surveillance or containment of resistance or infection control.

The Steering Committee is the decision making body. It is supported by a General Committee with representatives from European countries, FESCI and ISC. The Steering Committee also consults experts within the fields of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, pharmaceutical companies and susceptibility testing device manufacturers on EUCAST proposals.

EUCAST has subcommittees on antifungal susceptibility testing, expert rules for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobes. 

Most antimicrobial MIC breakpoints in Europe have been harmonised by EUCAST by 2009. Breakpoints for new agents are set as part of the licensing process for new agents through EMEA. EUCAST breakpoints will be available in devices for automated susceptibility testing during 2009 and 2010. A disk diffusion test calibrated to EUCAST MIC breakpoints was launched lat the end of 2009.

EUCAST invites anyone with an interest in antimicrobial agents in general and antimicrobial breakpoints in particular to contact EUCAST, ESCMID or one of the National Breakpoint Committees.