Below are the CLSI breakpoints for selected bacteria.

Please use your clinical judgement when assessing

breakpoints. The lowest number does NOT equal most potent antimicrobial. Contact Antimicrobial Stewardship
for drug selection and dosing questions.
Table 1: 2014 MIC Interpretive Standards for Enterobacteriaceae (includes E.coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter,
Serratia and Proteus spp)
Antimicrobial Agent MIC Interpretive Criteria (g/mL)
Enterobacteriaceae
S I R
Ampicillin 8 16 32
Ampicillin-sulbactam 8/4 16/8 32/16
Aztreonam 4 8 16
Cefazolin (blood) 2 4 8
Cefazolin** (uncomplicated UTI only) 16 32
Cefepime* 2 4-8* 16
Cefotetan 16 32 64
Ceftaroline 0.5 1 2
Ceftazidime 4 8 16
Ceftriaxone 1 2 4
Cefpodoxime 2 4 8
Ciprofloxacin 1 2 4
Ertapenem 0.5 1 2
Fosfomycin 64 128 256
Gentamicin 4 8 16
Imipenem 1 2 4
Levofloxacin 2 4 8
Meropenem 1 2 4
Piperacillin-tazobactam 16/4 32/4 64/4 128/4
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 2/38 --- 4/76
*Susceptibile dose-dependent see chart below
**Cefazolin can predict results for cefaclor, cefdinir, cefpodoxime, cefprozil, cefuroxime axetil, cephalexin and loracarbef for
uncomplicated UTIs due to E.coli, K.pneumoniae, and P.mirabilis. Cefpodoxime, cefinidir, and cefuroxime axetil may be tested
individually because some isolated may be susceptible to these agents while testing resistant to cefazolin.

Cefepime dosing for Enterobacteriaceae ( E.coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Serratia & Proteus spp)
Susceptible Susceptible dose-dependent (SDD) Resistant
MIC </= 2 4 8 >/= 16
Based on dose of: 1g q12h 1g every 8h or
2g q12
2g every 8 h Do not give
Total dose 2g 3-4g 6g NA

Table 2: 2014 MIC Interpretive Standards for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.
Antimicrobial Agent MIC Interpretive Criteria (g/mL)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
S I R
Amikacin 16 32 64
Aztreonam 8 16 32
Cefepime 8 16 32
Ceftazdime 8 16 32
Ciprofloxacin 1 2 4
Colistin/Polymixin B(Pseudomonas) 2 4 8
Colistin/ Polymixin B (Acinetobacter) 2 4
Gentamicin 4 8 16
Imipenem 2 4 8
Levofloxacin 2 4 8
Meropenem 2 4 8
Minocycline (Acinetobacter only) 4 8 16
Piperacillin-tazobactam 16/4 32/4 64/4 128/4
Ticarcillin-clavulanic acid 16/2 32/2 64/2 128/2
Tobramycin 4 8 16

GRAM POSITIVES
Table 3: 2014 MIC Interpretive Standards for S.aureus.
Antimicrobial Agent MIC Interpretive Criteria (g/mL)
S.aureus
S I R
Ceftaroline 1 2 4
Clindamycin 0.5 1-2 4
Erythromycin 0.5 1-4 8
Gentamicin 4 8 16
Levofloxacin 1 2 4
Moxifloxacin 0.5 1 2
Oxacillin* 2 4
Penicillin 0.12 0.25
Rifampin 1 2 4
Tetracycline 4 8 16
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole 2/38 4/76
Vancomycin 2 4-8 16
Daptomycin 1
Linezolid 4 8
*Rifampin should not be used for monotherapy ** If oxacillin susceptible, then results can applied to other beta-lactams including
cephalosporins.
Table 4: 2014 MIC Interpretive Standards for Enterococcus species.
Antimicrobial Agent MIC Interpretive Criteria (g/mL)
Enterococcus spp
S I R
Ampicillin*** 8 16
Daptomycin 4
Doxycycline 4 8 16
Erythromycin 0.5 1-4 8
Gentamicin Synergy or no synergy
Linezolid 2 4 8
Penicillin** 8 16
Quinapristin-dalfopristin
(Synercid)
1 2 4
Rifampin 1 2 4
Streptomycin Synergy or no synergy
Vancomycin 4 8-16 32
*For enterococcus, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides (except for high-level resistance screening), clindamycin, and trimethoprim-
sulfamethoxazole are not effective clinically.
**Call microbiology lab for penicillin MIC.
***Ampicillin susceptibility testing predicts activity of amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin, and
piperacillin-tazobactam. Ampicillin susceptibility can be used to predict imipenem susceptibility provided the species is E.faecalis.