About USCAST
USCAST is part of a global network dedicated to fighting the rise of antibiotic resistance through scientific, educational, and policy-creating activities. We are one of the many EUCAST-affiliated national committees that recognize the increasing need to create a path to evaluate both new and old antibiotics in the current context of antibiotic resistance, extent of tissue penetration at the site of infection, and bacterial killing rate at that body site. Our mission is to work with our global partners, establishing crucial standards for testing and interpreting the bacteria-killing power of antibiotics. The results we will interpret and share, allow healthcare providers to use the safest and most effective tools to save lives. |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jason M. Pogue, PharmD
Chairman
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Sujata M. Bhavnani, PharmD, MS
Vice Chair
Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics
Chairman
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Sujata M. Bhavnani, PharmD, MS
Vice Chair
Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics
Paul G. Ambrose, PharmD
Treasurer
Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics
Helio S. Sader, MD, PhD
JMI Laboratories
David R. Andes, MD
University of Wisconsin
Treasurer
Institute for Clinical Pharmacodynamics
Helio S. Sader, MD, PhD
JMI Laboratories
David R. Andes, MD
University of Wisconsin
Thomas P. Lodise, PharmD, PhD
Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Ronald N. Jones, MD
Emeritus member
JMI Laboratories
Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Ronald N. Jones, MD
Emeritus member
JMI Laboratories
MEMBERS
John S. Bradley, MD
University of California San Diego Rady Children’s Hospital
Emil P. Lesho, DO
Infectious Diseases Unit
Rochester Regional Health
Robert R. Rennie, PhD
University of Alberta Hospital
University of California San Diego Rady Children’s Hospital
Emil P. Lesho, DO
Infectious Diseases Unit
Rochester Regional Health
Robert R. Rennie, PhD
University of Alberta Hospital
Stefan Riedel, MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School
Alexander J. Lepak, MD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Michael A. Pfaller, MD
University of Iowa
Keith A. Rodvold, PharmD
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
Harvard Medical School
Alexander J. Lepak, MD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Michael A. Pfaller, MD
University of Iowa
Keith A. Rodvold, PharmD
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
Michael J. Rybak, PharmD, PhD
Wayne State University
Erin K. McCreary, PharmD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Marc Scheetz, PharmD, MSc
Midwestern University
Wayne State University
Erin K. McCreary, PharmD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Marc Scheetz, PharmD, MSc
Midwestern University
ADVISORS
Olga Lomovskaya, PhD
Qpex Biopharma
Qpex Biopharma
Judith N. Steenbergen, PhD
Scientific and Medical Affairs Consulting, LLC
Scientific and Medical Affairs Consulting, LLC
Ryan Shields, PharmD, MS
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Our Primary Objectives
ONE Provide a venue (electronic and "face-to-face" meetings) for USA individual practitioners / scientists, governmental agencies, and medical societies to interact with the EUCAST/EMA regulatory process of antibiotic testing and development of interpretive criteria per EUCAST NAC SOP 5.0.
TWO Review and endorse the "best use choice" of established reference and standardized antibiotic susceptibility testing methods currently found in public domain documents for dilution and agar disk diffusion procedures. Using USA-FDA Microbiology Sections of product package inserts, CLSI tables and EUCAST published guidelines, USCAST will review all clinical breakpoints and provide best, consensus published breakpoints recommendations to the agency and for use in USA medical practice.
THREE Review new agent development data regarding those items impacting the selection of antibiotic susceptibility testing breakpoint criteria for clinical practice. New antibiotic agents will be promptly reviewed.
TWO Review and endorse the "best use choice" of established reference and standardized antibiotic susceptibility testing methods currently found in public domain documents for dilution and agar disk diffusion procedures. Using USA-FDA Microbiology Sections of product package inserts, CLSI tables and EUCAST published guidelines, USCAST will review all clinical breakpoints and provide best, consensus published breakpoints recommendations to the agency and for use in USA medical practice.
THREE Review new agent development data regarding those items impacting the selection of antibiotic susceptibility testing breakpoint criteria for clinical practice. New antibiotic agents will be promptly reviewed.
FOUR Provide an efficient process respecting potentially sensitive, confidential information, but remaining open via full disclosures of conflicts of interest and by seeking public comment via electronic mechanisms on proposed published documents (breakpoints or test-result-based guidelines).
FIVE Provide readily accessible clinical breakpoints and other guidelines for antibiotic chemotherapy related to tested available agents, on an electronic format (online/website) to minimize cost and maximize widespread clinical/laboratory utility. Rapid application of breakpoints would be facilitated by collaborations with commercial susceptibility testing device manufacturers and regulatory agencies.
SIX Seek continued support and/or participations from established investigators in the disciplines important to antibiotic breakpoint determinations.
FIVE Provide readily accessible clinical breakpoints and other guidelines for antibiotic chemotherapy related to tested available agents, on an electronic format (online/website) to minimize cost and maximize widespread clinical/laboratory utility. Rapid application of breakpoints would be facilitated by collaborations with commercial susceptibility testing device manufacturers and regulatory agencies.
SIX Seek continued support and/or participations from established investigators in the disciplines important to antibiotic breakpoint determinations.