Quality in Diagnostic Microbiology: Experiential Note to Emphasize Value of Internal Control Programs
QC 2/2009 was atypical Streptococcus pneumoniae taken from the eye swab of a 34-year-old woman with conjunctivitis. All laboratories correctly identified this isolate as Streptococcus pneumoniae. This isolate presented with poor growth and was not producing the completely typical colonial morphology. All laboratories tested and unanimously reported chloramphenicol as susceptible. Except lab 5, all other laboratories correctly identified the isolate as having reduced susceptibility to penicillin and ampicillin. Also, the reports varied considerably on the antibiotics tested and/or reported. For instance, lab 1 tested cefotaxime as resistant but did not report it; whereas labs 4 and 6 tested and reported it as susceptible. Other three laboratories did not test for cefotaxime susceptibility [].