Rahul Hajare
We present the development and implementation the Point-of-Care
devices for the rapid identification of Streptococcus pyogenes
and Streptococcus pneumoniae with simultaneous identification
of antibiotic resistance genes. These bacteria are the main
etiological factor of acute pharyngitis, palatine tonsils, scarlet
fever, pneumonia, meningitis and development of sepsis, with
high mortality and dangerous complications. In cases of alleged
streptococci infection, antibiotics are used, and only in the absence
of positive treatment results an antibiogram is requested and
results are available after a few days. During this time, untreated
infection can lead to significant deterioration of a patient’s health.
The main advantage of the developed test will be fast identification
of the bacteria from the throat swab with simultaneous analysis of
the antibiotic resistance profile. As a result, the initial treatment will
use antibiotics to which the strains are not resistant, leading to fast
patient recovery. Results will be available after up to 30 minutes
during the medical appointment. The innovation of the developed
test will concern both the polymerase used for amplification of DNA
and the approach to resistance testing. Innovation of the concept of
drug resistance testing involves the study of not only the resistance
genes within the detected bacteria but also the examination of
the patient's natural bacterial flora. The presence of β-lactamaseencoding
genes that will protect streptococci against antibiotics
from the ampicillin group widely used in the treatment of this type
of infection will be also identified.