Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test

To rapidly identify appropriate antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bloodstream infection (BSI), we developed a direct and rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (dRAST) system. This system can determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria from a positive blood culture bottle (PBCB) in six hours.

 

We demonstrate a microfluidic agarose channel (MAC) system that reduces the AST assay time for determining MICs by single bacterial time-lapse imaging. By implementing single-cell tracking using a microscope, changes in bacterial cells can be detected as soon as cells start dividing. This allows the antibiotic susceptibility to be determined in 3~4 hours compared to 16 hours when using conventional OD measurement. Rapid AST in microbiology laboratories can have a major impact on the care and outcome of hospitalized patients with infections that require curative antibiotic treatments. Currently, research is underway to further reduce the time required for AST, leading to increases in the survival rate of patients.

• Jungil Choi, Jungheon Yoo, Mincheol Lee, Eun-Geun Kim, Ji Soo Lee, Seungok Lee, Seik Joo, Sang Hoon Song, Eui-Chong Kim, Jung Chan Lee, Hee Chan Kim, Yong-Gyun Jung & Sunghoon Kwon (2014). A rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test based on single-cell morphological analysis. Science translational medicine
• Tae Hyun Kim, Junwon Kang, Haewook Jang, Hyelyn Joo, Gi Yoon Lee, Hamin Kim, Untack Cho, Hyeeun Bang, Jisung Jang, Sangkwon Han, Dong Young Kim, Chan Mi Lee, Chang Kyung Kang, Pyoeng Gyun Choe, Nam Joong Kim, Myoung-don Oh, Taek Soo Kim, Inho Kim, Wan Beom Park & Sunghoon Kwon (2024) Blood culture-free ultra-rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Nature

QuantaMatrix Inc., a spin-off company, commercialized the microfluidic-based rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing solution and has successfully brought it to clinical application. Recognized for its clinical value, the innovation is now used in leading hospitals across South Korea—such as Seoul National University Hospital and the Catholic University Hospital—and in 13 countries worldwide, including France, making a significant contribution to patient care.