Background: To access the clinical usefulness of MicroScan^Ⓡ Synergies plus Combo Panels (Siemens, USA) for the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) and Gram-positive cocci (GPC), we compared MicroScan^Ⓡ Synergies plus Combo Panels with MicroScan^Ⓡ conventional Combo Panels.

Methods: One-hundred four isolates of GNB were simultaneously tested with MicroScan^Ⓡ Synergies plus Neg Combo Type 2 Panel (SINC2) and MicroScan^Ⓡ Neg Combo Panel Type 44 (NC44). One-hundred isolates of GPC were simultaneously tested with MicroScan^Ⓡ Synergies plus Pos Combo 3 Panel (SIPC3) and MicroScan^Ⓡ Pos Combo 1A (PC1A).

Results: Of the GNB isolates, agreement rate of identification between SINC2 and NC44 were 92.3% to the species level and 93.3% to the genus level. Of the GPC isolates, agreement rate of identification between SIPC3 and PC1A were 85.0% to the species level and 100% to the genus level. Of the GNB isolates, agreement rate of AST according to antimicrobial agents between SINC2 and NC44 ranged from 86.5% to 100%. Among GPC isolates, agreement rate of AST according to antimicrobial agents between SIPC3 and PC1A were higher than 96.0% with the exception of gentamicin and quinupristin-dalfopristin.

Conclusion: Compared with MicroScan^Ⓡ conventional Combo Panels (NC44, PC1A), MicroScan^Ⓡ Synergies plus Combo Panels (SINC2, SIPC3) showed high agreement rate of identification and AST, and had the advantage of more rapid reporting. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 2009;12:193-200)