Antibiotic Breakpoints: How Redefining Susceptibility Preserves Efficacy and Improves Patient Care

We have developed a microfluidic platform for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing. Fluid is passed at high speeds over bacteria immobilized on the bottom of a microfluidic channel. In the presence of stress and antibiotic, susceptible strains of bacteria die rapidly. However, resistant bacteria can survive these stressful...

Source: Anna Bläckberg1, Rolf Lood1
1 Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Infection Medicine, Biomedical Center, Lund University, 221 00 Lund Sweden
Knowledge of the interactions between antibiotics and bacteria is important in understanding how microbes evolve antibiotic resistance. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, an antibiotic that exerts its antibacterial function by interfering with cell wall regeneration (1). Other antibiotics with diverse mechanisms of...

A rapid bacterial pellet preparation from a positive blood culture can be used as a sample for applications such as identification by MALDI-TOF, Gram staining, antibiotic susceptibility testing and PCR-based test. The results can be rapidly communicated to clinicians to improve the outcome of patients suffering from bloodstream...

Source: Sekar, A., et. al., A Novel Method to Determine the Longitudinal Antibacterial Activity of Drug-Eluting Materials. J. Vis. Exp. (2023)This video demonstrates a luminescence-based assay for assessing the antibacterial efficacy of an antibiotic-loaded polymeric strip by quantifying ATP-driven luminescence, which decreases in bacterial cultures exposed to the...

Source: Koeth, L. M., et. al., A Reference Broth Microdilution Method for Dalbavancin In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Bacteria that Grow Aerobically. J. Vis. Exp. (2015).This video demonstrates the broth microdilution method for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic against Gram-positive bacteria. It covers bacterial colony isolation, dilution, inoculation of microplate wells with varying antibiotic concentrations, and verification of culture...

Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...