Combined identification and quantitative antibiotic resistance testing of bacteria (ASTANA)

Digital shearography for a faster, targeted treatment of sepsis patients

Sepsis is the most serious complication of an infection and is always life-threatening. Early detection of the causative pathogens and their specific antibiotic resistance can reduce morbidity and mortality. Against this background, the development of a rapid, specific and cost-effective solution for blood culture diagnostics for a critically ill patient population is of high clinical relevance. This is precisely where ASTANA comes in:

The time required for combined identification and quantitative antibiotic resistance testing of bacteria is drastically reduced. This allows an earlier switch from broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy to a significantly more effective, targeted therapy. This reduction is achieved by the ASTANA system, which consists of the following components:

1. A first centrifugal microfluidic device and associated microfluidic PCR chip for automatic sample preparation and performance of rapid multiplex PCR for bacterial identification from positively tested, bacteria-containing blood culture samples in 30 - 40 minutes (state of the art: 4 - 18 hours).
2. A second centrifugal microfluidic device, as well as associated centrifugal microfluidic chips to be developed, for fully automated quantitative antibiotic resistance testing of bacteria in 2 - 3 hours (state of the art: 6 - 24 hours).