Particularly virulent strains of bacteria are resistant to single antibiotic, and it takes combinations of the drugs to fight them. However, choosing the correct combinations proves tricky.
The research team is working to develop a rapid diagnostic device that will test bacterial responses to different antibiotic combinations. The team is working with a company called BacterioScan to develop the device. The device will include a box into which users can place bacteria samples. The device will monitor bacterial growth in the presence of various antibiotics and use that data to suggest combinations.
“I don’t have the time and luxury to take days, if not weeks, to figure this out when a patient is dying. The device we are developing will only take hours,” said University of Houston College of Pharmacy Professor Vincent H. Tam, PharmD, of the researchers.
Initially, researchers will test P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, a superbug.
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