A faster way to determine antimicrobial susceptibility

One of the main problems faced in clinical microbiology is the inability to rapidly detect infections which are resistant to antimicrobials. This is especially problematic for time-critical conditions such as bloodstream infections, which are amongst the most serious and challenging investigations faced by clinical microbiology. Every hour treatment is delayed, the patient’s likelihood of survival is significantly reduced. Antibiotics continue to be the main choice for the treatment of bloodstream infections but the rise in antibiotic resistance has and continues to limit treatment options. It is therefore important to detect antimicrobial resistant infections quickly to ensure the patient is given optimal therapy at the first opportunity in order to resolve the infection effectively and to prevent further complications such as sepsis.