Development of a rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test to assist the treatment of UTI in primary and urgent care settings (SCIFI)

Clinicians regularly prescribe antibiotics to patients with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) symptoms without confirming the presence of an infection and without the knowledge of whether the infection (if it exists) is resistant to the antibiotics prescribed. For patients who are at greatest risk of rapid deterioration or permanent damage from an untreated infection (such as the very young or very old) there are potentially serious consequences. Our prototype SCFI can determine if a bacterial suspension treated with an antibiotic is resistant or susceptible within 30 min and the technology is now at a stage where an end-user ‘device’ is a realistic near-future objective.

What is the project doing?

To translate this technology into a device that is financially viable and practically deployable in a healthcare setting. Specifically, the technology needs to adapt to the constraints and requirements of community clinicians (e.g., GPs and other healthcare workers), satisfy those who may purchase the technology (e.g., Commissioners of healthcare services) and address what is important and acceptable to patients. Our key aim is to establish that SCFI-based AST can correctly (accuracy >90%) determine the susceptibility profile of a pre-identified UTI clinical sample within one hour when comparing the results to internationally recognised reference standard AST.

What are the project aims?

Reduce the time taken for clinicians to determine if an infection is resistant to the antibiotics currently prescribed. Also, to reduce the in-appropriate use of antibiotics where they are not able to treat the infection found to be present. This will have most benefits for the very young or very old and their carers.

Project funded by NIHR Invention for Innovation scheme