This overview provides a summary of the Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection (MYSTIC) Program over an 8-year period from 1997 to 2004. The evolution of the MYSTIC Program is described, as well as its design compared with other surveillance programs. In addition, the global MYSTIC Program data, published to date, are summarized, and the empiric use of carbapenems, their current indications, and meropenem usage versus resistance was discussed. From 1997 to 2004, 120 medical centers that were actively prescribing meropenem in 32 countries worldwide participated in the program. The MYSTIC Program results demonstrate the sustained potency and continued effectiveness of meropenem globally against clinically relevant Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens including extended spectrum β-lactamase– and AmpC β-lactamase–producing organisms, which may also display resistance to the fluoroquinolones and/or aminoglycosides. Furthermore, in centers actively prescribing meropenem, resistance to meropenem is not increasing despite greater resistance among the comparator antimicrobial agents. Thus, antipseudomonal carbapenems such as meropenem and imipenem remain an effective treatment option.

• Quantitative data - Quantitative data were used during the intervention

Garcia-Rodriguez and Jones, 2002
J.A. Garcia-Rodriguez, R.N. Jones, the MYSTIC Programme Study Group
Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative isolates from European intensive care units: data from the Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection (MYSTIC) programme
J. Chemother., 14 (2002), pp. 25-32

Goossens, 2000 MYSTIC (Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection) results from Europe: comparison of antibiotic susceptibilities between countries and centre types. MYSTIC Study Group (European centres only) J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 46 (Suppl T2) (2000), pp. 39-52

Goossens, 2001 MYSTIC Program: summary of European data from 1997 to 2000 Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 41 (2001), pp. 183-189

Goossens and Grabein, 2005 Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility data for ESBL- and AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae from the MYSTIC Programme in Europe and the USA (1997–2004) Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. (2005)

R.N. Jones, P.R. Rhomberg, D.J. Varnam, D. Mathai
A comparison of the antimicrobial activity of meropenem and selected broad-spectrum antimicrobials tested against multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacilli including bacteraemic Salmonella spp.: initial studies for the MYSTIC Programme in India
Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents, 20 (2002), pp. 426-431

C. Kiffer, A. Hsiung, C. Oplustil, J. Sampaio, E. Sakagami, P. Turner, C. Mendes, the MYSTIC Brazil Group
Antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria in Brazilian Hospitals: the MYSTIC Program Brazil 2003
Braz. J. Infect. Dis., 9 (2005), pp. 214-222

R.G. Masterton, P.J. Turner
Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility in UK centres: the MYSTIC Programme (1997–2002)
Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents (2005)

C. Mendes, P.J. Turner
Unit differences in pathogen occurrence arising from the MYSTIC Program European database (1997–2000)
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 41 (2001), pp. 191-196

C. Mendes, C. Oplustil, E. Sakagami, P. Turner, C. Kiffer
Antimicrobial susceptibility in intensive care units: MYSTIC Program Brazil 2002
Braz. J. Infect. Dis., 9 (2005), pp. 44-51

A.H. Mutnick, P.J. Turner, R.N. Jones
Emerging antimicrobial resistances among Proteus mirabilis in Europe: report from the MYSTIC Program (1997–2001)
J. Chemother., 14 (2002), pp. 253-258

A.H. Mutnick, P.R. Rhomberg, H.S. Sader, R.N. Jones
Antimicrobial usage and resistance trend relationships from the MYSTIC Programme in North America (1999–2001)
J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 53 (2004), pp. 290-296

M.A. Pfaller, R.N. Jones
Antimicrobial susceptibility of inducible AmpC beta-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae from the Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection (MYSTIC) Programme, Europe 1997–2000
Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents, 19 (2002), pp. 383-388

M.A. Pfaller, for the MYSTIC Study Group (Americas)
MYSTIC (Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection) results from the Americas: resistance implications in the treatment of serious infections
J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 46 (Suppl T2) (2000), pp. 25-37

Pfaller et al., 2001
M.A. Pfaller, R.N. Jones, MYSTIC Program Study Group
Antimicrobial resistance trends in medical centers using carbapenems: report of 1999 and 2000 results from the MYSTIC Program (USA)
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 41 (2001), pp. 177-182

P.R. Rhomberg, R.N. Jones
Antimicrobial spectrum of activity for meropenem and nine broad spectrum antimicrobials: report from the MYSTIC Program (2002) in North America
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 47 (2003), pp. 365-372

P.R. Rhomberg, R.N. Jones, H.S. Sader, T.R. Fritsche
Antimicrobial resistance rates and clonality results from the Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection (MYSTIC) programme: report of year five (2003)
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 49 (2004), pp. 273-281

P.J. Turner
MYSTIC (Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection): a global overview
J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 46 (Suppl T2) (2000), pp. 9-23

P. Turner
Use of a program-specific website to disseminate surveillance data obtained from the MYSTIC (Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection) Study
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 53 (2005), pp. 273-279

P.J. Turner
Trends in antimicrobial susceptibilities among bacterial pathogens isolated from patients hospitalised in European medical centres: 6-year report of the MYSTIC surveillance study (1997–2002)
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 51 (2005), pp. 281-289

P.J. Turner, J.M. Greenhalgh, J.R. Edwards, J. McKellar
The MYSTIC (Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection) Programme
Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents, 13 (1999), pp. 117-125

S. Unal, J.A. Garcia-Rodriguez
Activity of meropenem and comparators against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. isolated in the MYSTIC Programme, 2002–2004
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 53 (2005), pp. 265-271

S. Unal, R. Masterton, H. Goossens
Bacteraemia in Europe—antimicrobial susceptibility data from the MYSTIC Surveillance Programme
Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents, 23 (2004), pp. 155-163

• Human - All activities regarding organisations and individuals involved in health products and services

• Healthcare delivery