The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Resistance Surveillance Project: Methods and limitations

Allen, Michael, Reynolds, Rosy, Mushtaq, Shazad, Nsonwu, Olisaeloka, Hope, Russell, Horner, Carolyne, Longshaw, Christopher, Parcell, Benjamin J. and Livermore, David M. (2025) The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Resistance Surveillance Project: Methods and limitations. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. ISSN 0305-7453 (In Press)

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Abstract

Objectives: The BSAC Bacteraemia and Respiratory Resistance Surveillance Programmes provided long-term surveillance of antibiotic resistance in key pathogens of bloodstream and both community- and hospital- acquired respiratory infections in the UK and Ireland. This paper details the methodologies used. Data limitations are discussed. Methods: Sentinel laboratories across the UK and Ireland contributed up to a fixed annual quota of isolates of defined bacterial groups. For each Programme a Central Laboratory confirmed bacterial identifications, measured MICs by the BSAC agar dilution method, investigated mechanisms of resistance, and determined serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Identification methods evolved over time, e.g. with adoption of MALDI-TOF. Classification of susceptibility and resistance follows 2022 (not contemporaneous) EUCAST guidance. Results: 79 laboratories contributed 30,716 community respiratory isolates from 1999/2000 to 2018/19; 65 laboratories contributed 13,508 hospital respiratory isolates from 2008/09 to 2018/19; 81 laboratories contributed 56,064 bacteraemia isolates from 2001 to 2019. Although large and teaching hospitals were over-represented, the resistance rates for bacteraemia organisms collected in England mirror more extensive (but less standardised or detailed) national data gathered from laboratories by the UKHSA and its predecessor organisations, which provided a bespoke data extract. Conclusions: These surveillance Programmes have provided comprehensive and reliable information on antibiotic susceptibility in the UK and Ireland over two decades. Detailed results, showing resistance trends and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, are presented in five papers in this Supplement.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	10 Oct 2025 13:32
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2025 13:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100689
DOI:	issn:0305-7453

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