Researchers have developed a new test to identify the presence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in patient samples within minutes. Developed by researchers at the University of California, the new technique is intended to help doctors rapidly prescribe the right class of antibiotics for an infection and limit the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. The findings are presented in a paper published in ChemBioChem.
Many infectious bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella, have evolved to produce beta-lactamases, rendering them immune to many common antibiotic treatments. The test, called DETECT, works by identifying the presence of beta-lactamases in urine samples.
While the technique for detecting beta-lactamases has already been developed, current methods require bacteria from patient samples to be cultured prior to testing. Culturing can take two to three days—during which time the infection can progress and even move into dangerous areas like the kidney or blood.
To speed the process, the DETECT technique uses an enzymatic chain reaction to boost the signal from beta-lactamases by a factor of 40,000, allowing direct detection of the enzymes in urine samples. From there, a physician can determine if early-generation antibiotics can be used or if an alternative treatment is required.
The system was used to test 40 urine samples collected from patients with a suspected urinary tract infection. The system found that one-quarter of those tested had antibiotic resistant infections.
"Drug-resistant infections are a silent pandemic that actually kill more people every year than Zika or Ebola," said Lee Riley, professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley. "The faster you can start the right drug, the better the chances of survival or avoiding complications."
The team is now collaborating with doctors and clinical lab specialists in hospitals to best determine how to implement the test in a clinical setting.
Image: Tara deBoer holds a well-plate of synthetic urine samples that have been added to the DETECT solution. The solution turns yellow when antibiotic-resistant bacteria are present.
Image: Tara deBoer holds a well-plate of synthetic urine samples that have been added to the DETECT solution. The solution turns yellow when antibiotic-resistant bacteria are present. Image courtesy of Stephen McNally photo.