General practitioners’ requests for advisory services from clinical microbiologists regarding selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility testing results
- By Clément Le Bihan,
- Guillaume G. Aubin,
- Pauline Jeanmougin,
- Jean-Pascal Fournier
- and Jean-Pascal Fournier
Pages 608 to 620
Cite this article
- LE BIHAN, Clément,
- AUBIN, Guillaume G.,
- JEANMOUGIN, Pauline,
- FOURNIER, Jean-Pascal
- and FOURNIER, Jean-Pascal,
- Le Bihan, Clément.,
- et al.
- Le Bihan, C.,
- Aubin, G.-G.,
- Jeanmougin, P.,
- Fournier, J.-P.
- and Fournier, J.-P.
https://doi.org/10.1684/abc.2025.2004
Cite this article
- Le Bihan, C.,
- Aubin, G.-G.,
- Jeanmougin, P.,
- Fournier, J.-P.
- and Fournier, J.-P.
- Le Bihan, Clément.,
- et al.
- LE BIHAN, Clément,
- AUBIN, Guillaume G.,
- JEANMOUGIN, Pauline,
- FOURNIER, Jean-Pascal
- and FOURNIER, Jean-Pascal,
https://doi.org/10.1684/abc.2025.2004
This study aimed to assess the rate at which general practitioners (GPs) sought advice from clinical microbiologists following the introduction of selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) results for enterobacterial urinary tract infections in adult women. It also aimed to describe the characteristics and reasons for these requests, as well as the acceptability of selective AST reporting. A prospective descriptive study was conducted as an ancillary component of the ABC-MG trial in 2023–2024. Data were collected on the number of selectively reported AST results, requests for advisory support, and the reasons for these requests. A telephone questionnaire was administered to GPs who had sought advisory support. A total of 4,144 selectively reported AST results were issued for 537 GPs. The rate of advisory requests related to these reports was 1.0%. Half of the GPs were satisfied with the use of selective AST reporting, and a majority acknowledged its value in combating antimicrobial resistance and reducing the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The main constraints identified were the need to contact a microbiologist to obtain a full AST report, delays in initiating antibiotic therapy, lack of clarity in the selective reports, and results considered inappropriate in cases of suspected acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis. Overall, the implementation and use of selective AST reporting appear to be well accepted by GPs and are associated with a low rate of advisory requests to microbiologists. These reports represent a promising tool in antimicrobial stewardship programs.