Development sheds new light on rapid detection of bacteria
The prototype of an automated diagnostic system that could bring an end to the 'hit and hope' treatment of infectious diseases is to be developed by UK-based Cambridge Consultants (CCL). The company, which is the European technology centre for global consulting firm Arthur D. Little, has been awarded the contract by Acolyte Biomedica, a joint venture established between the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and ANGLE Technology to develop and commercialise a technology for ultra-rapid diagnosis of bacterial infection.
The new system is designed to operate within the existing laboratory environment using standard reagents, and will diagnose bacterial infections and their drug susceptibility many times quicker than current methods to provide results that can be used for the clinical management of individual patients.
The system uses a combination of three technology elements – advanced bioluminescent detection technology; immuno magnetic extraction technology; and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) – to identify rapidly the cause of any bacterial infection in clinical samples and automatically assess the bacteria's susceptibility to selected antibiotics.
According to Dr Bill Mullen, Acolyte's business development director, this instrument will revolutionise the treatment of serious infectious diseases by enabling doctors to prescribe the right treatment first time within hours of a patient entering hospital.
He said: 'This leads to significant cost benefits in the long run as more targeted treatment is effected in the first instance. There will also be an impact on the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria – the right drug for the right bug.'
Chris Hammond, head of Cambridge Consultants' healthcare engineering, added: 'The automation of microbiological testing is overdue. By combining Acolyte's technology and CCL's rapid product development expertise, ultra-rapid microbiological detection will soon be a reality.'