Introduction

Welcome to the GLOBAL (Global Landscape On Bactericidal Activities of Levofloxacin) Surveillance analysis database. At present this database includes antibiotic susceptibility data for RTI pathogens from Europe, Asia, South Africa and Latin America for the years 1997-8, 1999-0 and 2001-2 sponsored by Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

This software has been developed, and is hosted and managed by GR Micro Ltd., London, UK.

Methodology

Antibiotic susceptibility is measured by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an antimicrobial against bacteria. The MIC is defined as the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that prevents bacterial growth.

All data within GLOBAL have been generated using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) microbroth dilution method (which is the standard method for the USA and the most commonly used method for global surveillance studies).

Each antibiotic has its own set of susceptibility breakpoints that are used to determine whether a bacterial isolate is susceptible, intermediate or resistant. Clinicians use this information to decide on the appropriate antibiotic therapy for a patient.

How to use the GLOBAL Surveillance database

Home Page

Click on the link to enter the database.

List of Studies

Select the Europe, Asia, South Africa and Latin America RTI Surveillance Study Years 1997-2002 study and click on the Continue button. Further information on this study can be obtained by clicking on the Information on Study link.

Study Selection Criteria

Specific choices can be made based on Pathogen, Betalactamase (Haemophilus influenzae & Moraxella catarrhalis only), Penicillin susceptibility (Streptococcus pneumoniae only), Antibiotic, Location of patient (inpatient or outpatient), Source of clinical specimen and Country. Patient-specific selections can also be made based on Gender, Age group and Adult age subgroup.

1. Click the Pathogen(s) of interest. A maximum of 3 pathogens may be chosen by holding down the <ctrl> key. At least one pathogen must be chosen. If Haemophilus influenzae and/or Moraxella catarrhalis are chosen a further option to analyse data based on betalactamase becomes available. Similarly, if Streptococcus pneumoniae is chosen a further option to analyse these bacteria based on penicillin susceptibility becomes available. When all 3 pathogens are selected these additional options are not selectable.
2. Click Antibiotic(s) of interest. Choose more than 1 antibiotic by holding down the <ctrl> key. If no specific antibiotic is chosen all available antibiotic data will be provided.
3. Click Location(s) of interest. Data from Inpatient or Outpatient populations can be compared by selecting both using the <ctrl> key. If neither is chosen combined data (consolidated) are provided.
4. Click Source(s) of interest. A maximum of 3 sources of clinical specimen can be compared at any one time using the <ctrl> key. If none are chosen combined data (consolidated) are provided.
5. Click Country of interest. If a specific country is not chosen, combined data (consolidated) will be given. If a country-specific analysis is required, choose up to a total of 3 countries using the <ctrl> key.
6. Click Gender of interest. Data from both genders will be combined unless male or female is selected.
7. Click Age group of interest. Data from <18 year old patients or data from >17 year old patients can be provided. If the latter is chosen a further option to analyse Adult patients (aged 18 to 64 years old) and Elderly patients (aged > 64 years old) becomes available.

Once all the required choices have been made click on the produce reports button.

Please note that the number of tables produced is directly linked to the number of specific selections made. It is advisable to analyse the database a few times rather than try to do everything on one visit, especially when using GLOBAL for the first time.

Study Results

The Tables presented are of two types.

1. Percent distribution of MIC for each antibiotic.
2. Summary of the MIC data and the percentage of isolates according to susceptible, intermediate and resistant breakpoints.

These tables for all three years of the RTI study (1997/8, 1999/0 and 2001/2) are provided automatically and the links above each Table can be used to view the corresponding Table from each year.

The header above each Table acts as a reminder of the selection criteria that were made and year of surveillance. If any Table is required for future use it can be selected, copied and pasted into Excel, for example.

Numerous sets of results using different search criteria can be viewed at once by returning to the Study selection criteria page without closing the results page.

The information from GLOBAL Surveillance database searches is copyright to Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. It is mandatory that the source of this information is acknowledged in any presentation or publication.