Until now, detecting of dangerous for people pathogen, which is Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), involved a long-lasting research. Recently faster method of detecting the microbe is available to use. It is approved in the USA NucliSENS EasyQ test which enables the diagnosis in 2 hours.


MRSA is a bacteria which causes mainly skin infection manifesting itself in formation of furuncles and festers/abscesses. The pathogen is the most common cause of bone and bone marrow infection. Concerning refractoriness to antibiotics such as, i.a., penicilins, carbapenems, cephalosporins and monobactams, it may lead to serious complications like sepsis, shock, amputation of limbs and the death of a patient.

The most prone to dangerous for life infection are people with weak immunity system, after a surgery, people taking intravenous drugs, drug addicts and elderly people. In their organisms the dangerous infection may develop in the time of 24-28 hours. After 3 days the bacteria which remains in human tissues may become refractory.

Until now the standard of diagnosis is to make a classical culture technique which very often involves a couple of days of waiting for the result. Due to the shortening of the waiting for the results time when using molecular test NucliSENS EasyQ it is possible to impact the microbe faster. The advantage is the possibility of detecting 7 most common types of bacteria which are highly resistant to antibiotics. What is more, in one cycle the apparatus for Nucli Sens is able to analyse 1 to 46 nasal samples of the patient. American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms that the test characterises with high sensitivity and specificity. In adults the clinical sensitivity amounts 94,7% and clinical specificity 96,5%. Those parameters measured in children are 100% and 97,3% respectively.

Another advantage is that the unused reagents can be frozen for 3 days and examined, for example, after weekend. The possibility of faster doctor’s reaction allows to suppose better treatment results and the avoidance of cross infection in another patients in the time of long-lasting waiting for the results of a classical culture technique. Acting according to antibiogram will allow to minimise the effect of rising resistance to another drugs.

Features of this diagnostics tool allow for using it also to the classical culture technique tests. If the test was more popular and his price more affordable for the population it is possible to assume that the level of healthcare would rise in many countries.

Author: Jerzy Bednarski

Source:
1.http://www.biomerieux-usa.com/servlet/srt/bio/usa/dynPage?doc=USA_PRD_LST_G_PRD_USA_13
2.http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/24/idUS197496+24-May-2011+BW20110524
3.http://tahilla.typepad.com/mrsawatch/2011/05/biomerieux-receives-fda-clearance-for-nuclisens-easyqr-mrsa-automated-rapid-molecular-screening-test.html
4.http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/226452.php