To mitigate the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, knowing as quickly as possible which strains a given patient may carry is crucial. Generally, making this determination takes days, but a new methodology may cut that time down significantly.
Scientists at Arizona State University in Tempe have developed a microfluidic technology that can sort antibiotic-resistant bacteria from strains that are susceptible to antibiotics in a matter of minutes by analyzing extremely small samples.
This approach could change the way a particular patient is treated as well as help bolster the trend of targeting more specific pathogenic bacteria, rather than continuing the broad-spectrum antibiotic approach that has likely contributed to much of the resistance researchers are seeing today.
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