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 EMA 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 and other countries, FESCI and ISC. The Steering Committee also consults on EUCAST proposals with experts within the fields of infectious diseases and microbiology, pharmaceutical companies and susceptibility testing device manufacturers.

EUCAST has a subcommittee on antifungal susceptibility testing. Subcommittees on expert rules for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobes have completed their tasks and have been disbanded.

Most antimicrobial MIC breakpoints in Europe have been harmonised by EUCAST. Breakpoints for new agents are set as part of the licensing process for new agents through EMA. EUCAST breakpoints are available in devices for automated susceptibility testing but with some limitations, depending on the system. A disk diffusion susceptibility test method calibrated to EUCAST MIC breakpoints is also available.

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.