Biotechnology Healthcare - June 2008 - (Page 58) ingly become a problem (Klein Recognized as a faster, but generally 2007), some facilities test every pa- more expensive, alternative to cultient who is admitted. Such man- ture-based tests, this assay works in dates bring a new sense of urgency the following manner: A specimen to the development of HAI screening tools, and companies are responding by bringing faster, cheaper, and more accurate tests to market. Active surveillance of MRSA most commonly comes in the form of nasal swabs. Culture-based testing has long been the standard, but these tests traditionally take at least 48 hours to produce results — time that is valuable for isolating colonized patients. Molecular diagnostic tests are now emerging as a more specific, sensitive, and expedient alternative. Three such tests on the market are 3M Health Care’s 3M BacLite Rapid MRSA test, BD GeneOhm’s 3M BacLite Rapid MRSA test MRSA assay, and Cepheid’s Xpert MRSA test. is obtained from a patient’s nose, Fast culture method. 3M Health polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Care’s MRSA test is available in technology is utilized to amplify Europe. It is a culture-based diag- DNA and detect unique MRSA nostic test that the company claims gene sequences, a bacterial lysis to be the most cost-effective of any procedure is performed, and realof the MRSA tests that deliver time PCR is used to determine the same-day results. The system uses presence of MRSA (Borgert 2007). the ultrasensitive AK Rapid tech- Dedicated software then interprets nology1 to detect MRSA and other the data and produces a definite dangerous infections (Borgert assay result, allowing incoming pa2007). The BacLite test can con- tients to be identified quickly as firm a negative result within five MRSA carriers. Cleared for marketing by the hours and a positive result within FDA in April 2007, Cepheid’s Xpert one day. Molecular diagnostics. One of MRSA test is another new mo the first successful molecular tests lecular test making headlines. Deon the market, GeneOhm’s MRSA signed to run on the company’s assay can detect nasal colonization GeneXpert System, this test offers of MRSA in just two hours with 96 results in 72 minutes. Also, it is the percent accuracy (Somers 2005). first molecular diagnostic MRSA test to receive the Clinical Lab1 Manufactured by Acolyte Biomedical, oratory Improvement Amendments’ which was acquired by 3M in 2007. 58 BIOTECHNOLOGY HEALTHCARE · MAY/JUNE 2008 “moderate complexity” categorization. With the receipt of this designation, Xpert MRSA is available for use both within and outside of the traditional laboratory setting, lending greater flexibility to its operation. Cepheid’s test also has been selected for use by 10 Veterans Affairs medical centers, and is under consideration at an additional 37 centers. In Scotland, a novel MRSA diagnostic technology is being developed by Blaze Venture Technologies in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Naturally occurring bacteriophages, or viruses that prey on bacteria, are used as a MRSA detection sensor. Swabs are obtained from patients and placed onto a card coated with light-emitting bacteriophages. The virus rapidly reproduces when MRSA is detected by the machine. Ward nurses are able to directly access the machine — which is similar to an ATM — instead of having to send tests to a laboratory. Another major benefit of the new system is the speed of results: Initial MRSA findings take only 10 minutes (Duffy 2008). SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS A growing number of U.S. hospitals are adopting data- mining technologies to better identify and track HAIs. Cardinal Health’s MedMined services offers analytical software to track laboratory and microbiology tests in every part of a hospital, merge the findings with details of how and where a patient is being treated, and alert infectioncontrol professionals to possible problems — all without labor-intensive detective work. This system allows hospitals to stay up to date on infection tracking, instead of using
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.