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The SIR system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) has not changed over several decades. The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing will from 1 January 2019 implement a new SIR definition, which will also apply in Sweden. The main change is that the I-group (previously »intermediate«) will be renamed as »susceptible, increased exposure«. If »I« is included in the AST report it does not mean that the antimicrobial agent should be avoided, but rather that the dosing regimen needs to compensate for the decreased susceptibility.

Patients with severe sepsis/septic shock have a high mortality. Beta-lactam antibiotics are normally first line treatment. This antimicrobial class has been associated with time-dependent efficacy. It is therefore plausible that administration as prolonged infusion will increase the therapeutic effect, as compared to short term bolus injections, which is the most common practice today. We have reviewed 14 randomized controlled studies to investigate whether prolonged infusion provides lower mortality and/or increased clinical cure. In summary, convincing advantages with prolonged infusion could not be found, however randomized studies are heterogeneous, and it cannot be excluded that some subgroups of critically ill patients could benefit from such treatment.

Early and adequate antimicrobial therapy is lifesaving in patients with bloodstream infections (BSI). Continuous incubation and 24h availability of microbial pathogen identification in clinical microbiology laboratories shortens the time to report. To describe the current status in Swedish clinical microbiology laboratories, a web-based survey was performed. The survey showed major differences in availability both regarding laboratory opening hours and ability to incubate blood culture bottles outside working hours. It also showed differences in what was conveyed verbally to the clinician and in time to report of the bacterial species. Based on this survey, we debate how Swedish healthcare can improve the care of patients with BSI by offering a more rapid diagnostic process. This could be achieved through longer opening hours of the laboratory, better transport systems and blood culture cabinets positioned closer to the patient.