Automatic Digital Analysis of Chromogenic Media for Vancomycin-Resistant-Enterococcus Screens Using Copan WASPLab

Area of Science:

• Clinical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a significant cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
• Active surveillance for VRE colonization is crucial for reducing HAIs but incurs substantial laboratory and healthcare system costs.
• Digital imaging offers a potential solution to reduce labor costs associated with VRE screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of the WASPLab Chromogenic Detection Module (CDM) software for analyzing VRE chromogenic agar.
• To compare the accuracy of automated CDM analysis with traditional technologist plate reading.

Main Methods:

• Digital images of VRE chromogenic agar plates from 104,730 specimens were analyzed using WASPLab CDM software.
• Automated analysis was compared to manual reading by technologists using digital images on high-definition monitors.
• Specimens were cultured using standard-of-care chromogenic media at three different laboratories.

Main Results:

• The WASPLab CDM achieved 90.1% agreement with manual analysis across all tested specimens.
• Automation demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 89.5% specificity in detecting VRE.
• The software accurately identified negative VRE plates in 84% of cases, with discordant results undergoing further review.

Conclusions:

• The WASPLab CDM software is a highly accurate tool for analyzing VRE chromogenic agar.
• Automated VRE screening can significantly reduce labor costs and potentially enhance patient care.
• The technology shows promise for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of VRE surveillance programs.