Reducing MRSA Test From Days to Hours

A rapid screening test reduces the time needed to diagnose methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from days to just a few hours.

There are other antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESbL) producers and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), that have been widely detected in hospitals. ESbL-producing Escherichia coli (E coli) are able to resist penicillin and antibiotics, and are found in urinary tract infections in the community as well as in hospitals. VRE are found in feces and can cause urinary-tract infections.

Acolyte Biomedica (Porton Down, UK) developed the BacLite rapid MRSA screening test, which is proving to be a powerful weapon in the battle to reduce the spread of MRSA, saving many lives each year. Several National Health Service (NHS, UK) and private U.K. hospitals are currently using the BacLite test to screen for MRSA, which is resistant to all but a few expensive and rarely-used antibiotics.

Acolyte Biomedica is now using specially equipped laboratories at Tetricus (Porton Down, UK) to develop rapid screening tests for other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Tetricus is a bio-incubation unit, which provides a mixture of serviced office and laboratory accommodations for fast-growing biotechnology companies.

Bill Mullen, Acolyte's chief executive, said: "This not the sort of thing you can do on a conventional industrial estate without your neighbors getting worried. Tetricus provides a sophisticated and safe environment for this type of work, and businesses based here also benefit from the support and expertise at Porton Down, which is home to more than 1,000 scientists.”



Related Links:
Acolyte Biomedica
Tetricus