The presence of viable bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) when not controlled properly can lead to bloodstream infection (BSI) and sepsis, a syndromic inflammatory response.
Rapid and accurate antimicrobial prescriptions are critical to decrease mortality significantly for BSI patients. However, the traditional antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for BSI is time-consuming and tedious, leading clinicians to rely primarily on experience for treatment.
Researchers from Shandong University, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University have developed an integrated microfluidic chip (BSI-AST chip) for rapid AST from positive blood cultures (PBCs) and the whole process from bacteria extraction to AST result output was less than 3.5 hours. It promises to be a powerful new tool for accelerating AST for bloodstream infections.
The study was published in Analytical Chemistry on Sept. 14.
“Traditional AST methods currently require at least two days to yield results following a positive blood culture. The delay in diagnosis compels the administration of empirical antibiotics, risking the aggravation of the patient’s condition and fostering the emergence of antibiotic resistance,” said Prof. Ma Bo from the Single-Cell Center at QIBEBT, co-author of the study. “Therefore, there is an urgent need for new technologies that