In the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), rapid advancements in diagnostic technology are crucial. IFAST Diagnostics Ltd, a spinout from the University of Southampton, has unveiled a groundbreaking antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) system that promises to deliver results with unprecedented speed and accuracy. By enabling healthcare providers to identify the most effective antibiotics within hours rather than days, this innovation aims to significantly enhance patient outcomes and combat the growing threat of AMR.
AMR has turn into a pressing global health crisis, with pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi developing the ability to withstand treatments designed to eliminate them. This adaptability leads to more challenging infections, prolonged illnesses and increased mortality rates. A recent analysis in The Lancet highlighted that bacterial AMR was responsible for approximately 1.27 million deaths in 2019 alone, underscoring its severity as a public health threat.
Current diagnostic methods for determining antibiotic susceptibility typically require one to two days to yield results. This delay is particularly critical for patients suffering from severe infections, such as sepsis, where timely treatment is essential. Clinicians often resort to empirical therapy—prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics based on symptoms—before obtaining definitive susceptibility data. This practice not only risks treatment failure but also contributes to the acceleration of resistance development.
The iFAST Rapid AST System: A Game Changer
The newly developed iFAST rapid AST system revolutionizes the diagnostic process by providing results in three hours or less from a positive blood culture. This is a significant improvement over conventional methods, which can take 24 to 72 hours. Central to this technology is a miniaturised microfluidic impedance cytometer that analyzes the response of bacteria to antibiotics by measuring their electrical properties.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on bacterial growth, the iFAST system detects biophysical changes in bacteria as they interact with antibiotics. This allows for a quicker assessment of whether a strain is susceptible or resistant to specific treatments.
How the Technology Works
The iFAST workflow consists of several steps:
- Sample preparation: Bacteria are extracted from a positive blood culture and suspended in a suitable medium.
- Antibiotic exposure: The bacterial suspension is then exposed to various antibiotics over a two-hour incubation period.
- High throughput measurement: The system rapidly analyzes thousands of individual bacteria, processing up to 10,000 cells in under a minute.
- Result generation: The iFAST system produces qualitative results—classifying bacteria as sensitive, intermediate, or resistant (S/I/R)—along with quantitative minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values.
Impact on Clinical Practice
The implementation of the iFAST rapid AST system offers several clinical and operational advantages:
- Rapid, actionable results: Clinicians can shift from empirical to targeted therapy within a single shift, crucial for successful intervention in severe infections.
- High accuracy: The iFAST system has shown at least 95% concordance with traditional disk diffusion methods, instilling confidence in its reliability.
- Improved patient outcomes: Timely and precise antibiotic selection is linked to reduced mortality, shorter hospital stays, and diminished risks of complications and recurrent infections.
By swiftly identifying optimal narrow-spectrum antibiotics, the iFAST system minimizes reliance on broad-spectrum agents, thereby supporting global efforts to mitigate AMR.
Operational Efficiency and Sustainability
Designed with modern laboratory workflows in mind, the iFAST system is compact and cost-effective:
- A single device can process over ten patient blood samples per shift.
- Its compact footprint (approximately 600 × 600 mm) allows easy integration into existing lab spaces.
- Operational costs are comparable to or lower than current methods, with reduced labor requirements.
- The system generates significantly less plastic waste and allows consumables to be stored at room temperature, freeing up valuable refrigerated storage.
Validation and Future Prospects
iFAST Diagnostics has successfully validated its technology through clinical trials, receiving the UKCA certification for gram-negative positive blood cultures, with plans to expand to gram-positive panels. The company has also achieved ISO 13485 certification, enabling it to market its devices across Great Britain, with an EU rollout planned for 2026/27.
As AMR continues to pose a formidable challenge, innovations like the iFAST rapid AST system are essential. By providing quick and accurate susceptibility testing, this technology not only enhances individual patient care but also plays a critical role in the broader strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance globally.
For those interested in the future of antimicrobial stewardship and the fight against AMR, the development of rapid AST systems represents a significant step forward. As we look ahead, advancements in diagnostic technology will be crucial in ensuring effective treatment options remain available.
Please share your thoughts on the importance of rapid diagnostics in tackling AMR in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice.
