Interpretation of Key Updates in the 36th Edition of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M100 Standard

ABSTRACT The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M100 document serves as a cornerstone standard for clinical microbiology laboratories in China. Maintaining the scientific rigor of its predecessors, the 36th edition incorporates updated epidemiological cutoff values, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data, and clinical efficacy evidence to revise several key components. Aimed at improving the clinical predictive value of antimicrobial susceptibility testing results and guiding precise anti‐infective therapy, this article provides a summary review of key updates in the 36th edition of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M100. Key revisions include comprehensive species‐specific susceptibility breakpoints for major clinical pathogens, removal of outdated epidemiological cutoff values, optimization of laboratory testing procedures, updated antimicrobial susceptibility profiles for anaerobes, and adjustments to routine quality control criteria. Collectively, these changes further standardize and refine guidelines for diverse bacterial species.