A five-year analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility testing profiles for beta-lactam antimicrobials, with inter-hospital and susceptibility method comparisons within a medical school affiliated hospital system.

A comparative study of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns was performed for a five-year period in four hospitals affiliated with the University of Utah School of Medicine due to concern that susceptibility testing method and results differences between hospital units might complicate training and comprise initial antimicrobial therapy. Few significant pattern changes were detected within or between the individual hospitals during the five-year period, and variances between hospitals were in general no greater than variances demonstrated within individual service units within the University Hospital.