Researchers speed up the detection of bloodstream infections

Researchers at the University of Western Australia have developed a new method for detecting blood infections that, he hopes, will dramatically speed up the diagnosis and treatment of serious infections.

The research follows the exciting results of last year's screening test to detect antibiotic resistance and to ensure that the right antibiotics can be prescribed faster.

The time-saving solution known as FISH-flow (since it combines in situ fluorescent hybridization with flow cytometry) accurately detects bacteria in the blood of the hours before the current routine methods.

Flow cytometry is a powerful laboratory tool that uses lasers, digital electronics, and graphic imaging technology to badyze the physical and chemical characteristics of individual cells in a liquid, such as blood or bone marrow.

Professor Tim Inglis, head of pathology and laboratory medicine at UWA, said the importance of the new method was to complement the ultra-rapid method of antibiotic screening that his group works on, in order to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of serious blood infections.

Professor Inglis stated that the research paper, published in PLOS One, has described the application of flow cytometry to the early detection of bacteria in the blood in order to speed up laboratory diagnosis of the blood infection.

He added that any reduction in the time needed to choose the right antibiotic would save lives.

Bloodstream infections, often known as sepsis, remain a common cause of serious illness and death in developed countries and are increasingly difficult to treat effectively because of rising levels of antibiotic resistance.

Provided by
University of Western Australia