Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing System

A system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) called aura image has new software that includes an Expert Rule database and an Epidemiology Reporting (AER) package that make the system useful for resistance monitoring and infection control.

The Expert Database is a comprehensive collation of more than 300 important rules and opinions gathered from eminent biologists in the AST field. The rules have been developed to allow for certain drug-organism reactions that are not easy to recognize. The database makes it easy to learn to recognize these special circumstances. The conditions and origin of each rule can be viewed, and an audit trail shows which rules have been applied and/or over-ridden.

The AER system allows trends in resistance to be closely monitored over a period of time and provides early warning of potential problems. The AER reports are user-configurable, allowing graph type, time frame, and range of search to be selected as required. The AER can be loaded onto a separate computer system, enabling the infection control team to access and use the software even when the aura image system is in use.

Oxoid Limited (Basingstoke, UK) developed the aura image system and the new software to assist infection control teams in the prevention of outbreaks of resistant strains in hospitals.




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Oxoid