scope:

CLSI documents M02,⁵ M07,⁶ VET01,¹ and M100⁷ describe standardized methods and breakpoints for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of common aerobic bacteria, including some fastidious organisms. However, there are a number of less frequently encountered or fastidious veterinary bacteria that are not covered in those CLSI documents. Some are organisms that may cause serious infections in companion and livestock animals.

This document provides recommendations to microbiology laboratories for how and when to determine the susceptibility of these diverse organisms. VET06 also includes some fastidious or unusual organisms potentially associated with bioterrorism. This document provides veterinary diagnostic laboratories with currently recommended antimicrobial agent disk and dilution susceptibility test methods for bacteria isolated from animals, criteria for QC testing, and breakpoints. The breakpoints are intended only to support therapeutic label claims for animal antimicrobial agent use and do not apply to label claims for disease prevention or performance enhancement. Additionally, the document provides a brief overview of the various antimicrobial classes and mechanisms of resistance to them, including specific tests for antimicrobial resistance.

This document does not cover commercial susceptibility testing devices.