Critical antimicrobial susceptibility testing results for critical patients: A 2025 perspective

The microbiology laboratory plays a vital role in selecting antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods to guide treatment of severe infections in critically ill patients. Delayed or inaccurate results, especially in multi-drug-resistant cases, can lead to poor outcomes and higher mortality.

In this SelectScience webinar Dr. James A. McKinnell, M.D. an infectious disease specialist, will describe how accurate minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data can improve turnaround times, optimize therapeutic decisions, and support the use of new treatments. The session will explore how reliable broth microdilution-based MICs for novel antibiotics enhance patient outcomes while reducing length of stay, adverse effects, and costs.

Join the webinar to learn how antimicrobial stewardship efforts are most effective when supported by timely diagnostics and collaboration among microbiologists, clinicians, stewardship teams, and policymakers, helping to address the global challenge of antibiotic resistance in the post-Covid era.

Key learning objectives:

• Describe the role of the microbiology laboratory in guiding AST for critically ill patients.
• Recognize the value of accurate MIC data in improving turnaround times, optimizing therapy, and supporting new antibiotic use.
• Identify how antimicrobial stewardship programs rely on timely diagnostic data and collaboration to improve patient outcomes.
• Discuss the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among microbiologists, clinicians, stewardship teams, and policymakers to combat antibiotic resistance in a post-Covid world.

Who should attend?

• Clinical microbiologists, laboratory technicians, lab managers, lab directors, infectious disease specialists, and infectious disease clinicians.

Accreditation statement

SelectScience® is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. Attendees of these webinars may be entitled to 1.0 ACCENT Continuing Education Credits from the ADLM. This activity was planned in accordance with ACCENT® Standards and Policies. Verification of Participation certificates are provided to registered participants based on completion of the activity, in its entirety, and the activity evaluation. For questions regarding continuing education, please email [email protected].

Presenter: Dr. James A. McKinnell (M.D. and Infectious Disease Specialist, Milefchik-Rand Medical Group, Torrance and Memorial Medical Center, Torrance CA)

Dr. James A. McKinnell is an infectious disease specialist whose research focuses on healthcare-associated infections, particularly VRE, MRSA, and carbapenem-resistant organisms. He has authored over 40 publications on antibiotic optimization and antimicrobial resistance. Dr. McKinnell works closely with skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles and Orange County (USA) to develop practical infection prevention and stewardship strategies. He also contributes as an invited speaker for the Infectious Disease Association of California and as a committee member for Los Angeles County’s HAI and antimicrobial resistance initiatives.

Moderator: Sarah Thomas (Associate Editor, SelectScience)