Harmonization of whole genome sequencing for outbreak surveillance of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococci.

The surge and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has grown to an issue of worldwide proportions. Key objectives in fighting this problem are preventing the spread of AMR bacteria and improving surveillance of these resistant microbes. The prevention of (hospital-acquired) infections with resistant microbes is important to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms. Routine surveillance by molecular typing can aid in this prevention and thus in the fight against AMR, as outlined by the global action plan of the World Health Organization. As part of a multi-centre surveillance study for the dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria we harmonised the inter-laboratory reproducibility for Whole genome sequencing.