AusDiagnostics has joined the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – an urgent global public health threat, resulting in more than 1.2 million fatalities annually across the globe year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO).
AMR arises when microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi evolve and develop mechanisms to counter antimicrobial medications and render them ineffective. Consequently, treating infections becomes challenging, escalating the chances of widespread disease, intensified illness, and death.
The rise of the “big 5 AMR” pathogens, which include carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has alarmed health professionals worldwide. These pathogens are particularly concerning as they resist multiple drugs, making treatments complex and often less effective.
Quick diagnosis and calculated and informed use of antimicrobials can mitigate AMR’s threat. Recent findings published in The Lancet indicate that in 2019 alone, nearly five million deaths were attributed to AMR.
“Speedy diagnosis and prudent antibiotic application are instrumental in curbing antibiotic resistance,” says Dr Dmitry Kuevda, a Director at AusDiagnostics.
AusDiagnostics offers a molecular test kit to detect antibiotic resistance in Gram-positive bacteria. This innovation enables medical facilities to swiftly identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria within hours, bypassing the traditional method of growing bacteria in petri dishes, which can take up to two days.
Leveraging its unique multiplexing technology, AusDiagnostics can simultaneously check for an array of pathogens and their resistance genes from just one sample. Among the available kits, one identifies Gram-positive bacteria and associated resistance genes, which include pathogens like MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
In addition to its expansive range of diagnostic tools, AusDiagnostics has recently unveiled the CRE 16-well (REF 21098) panel, further emphasising the company’s commitment to countering antimicrobial resistance. This kit specifically identifies various resistance genes, including resistance to a spectrum of β-lactamases and carbapenemases. These genes are indicators of bacteria’s ability to resist certain antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat. With targets like the OXA-48-like β-lactamase, New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamases (NDM), and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), the kit provides a comprehensive approach to detecting a variety of resistant bacteria, ensuring that health professionals are equipped with precise information to tackle AMR effectively. Including the Bacteria 16S RNA marker and other resistance markers like SME carbapenemase further accentuates the panel’s expansive coverage in the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The Urinogenital & Resistance 12-well panel (REF 87213), helps AusDiagnostics’ customers to quickly identify sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their associated antibiotic resistance genes. This diagnostic tool can detect six primary STIs, including Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. More importantly, it can identify crucial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) markers such as the M. genitalium parC fluoroquinolone resistance and N. gonorrhoeae ceftriaxone resistance mosaic penA. The panel also recognises three conditionally pathogenic flora, emphasizing its comprehensive diagnostic potential. Integrating such advanced AMR markers into diagnostic tools highlights the pressing need to stay ahead of evolving resistant strains and reaffirms AusDiagnostics’ proactive stance in the global fight against antibiotic resistance.
Cumulatively, the AMR portfolio of products at AusDiagnostics identifies a vast majority of the superbugs that are a present-day threat to global hospitals. This diagnostic approach assists healthcare professionals in making informed decisions, minimising the risk of ineffective treatments and further propagation of bacterial resistance.
The World AMR Awareness Week is scheduled from November 18 to 24, 2023. The theme is “Preventing antimicrobial resistance together”.
About AusDiagnostics:
Established in August 2006, AusDiagnostics Pty Ltd stands as a premier global firm that conceptualises, produces, and markets an exhaustive range of multiplexing molecular diagnostic assays and reagents. Besides catering to the medical sector, the company also provides solutions for the veterinary, food, water, and environmental domains. With a robust team of 115 professionals stationed across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK, AusDiagnostics consistently serves an expanding network of over 25 global distributors and partners through its manufacturing hubs in Australia and the UK.
For further details, contact:
media@ausdx.com
+61 (02) 9698 8030
References:
CDC on AMR
WHO on AMR
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