Evaluation of a Novel Rapid Phenotypic Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing System

Phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is essential for guiding timely and effective antibiotic therapy. Rapid and accurate reporting of AST results enables earlier optimization of treatment and supports antimicrobial stewardship by minimizing unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Selux DX Next-Generation Phenotyping AST system in comparison with the standard-of-care MicroScan WalkAway Plus system and broth microdilution reference results.

A total of 332 clinical isolates and 97 Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Bank reference isolates were tested using the Selux DX and MicroScan systems. Performance was assessed by categorical agreement (CA), error rates [very major errors (VMEs), major errors (MEs), minor errors (mEs)], and turnaround time.

The Selux DX system demonstrated ≥90% CA for most drug-organism combinations, consistent with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) acceptance thresholds, although elevated error rates were noted for erythromycin, aztreonam, cefazolin, minocycline, and ampicillin/sulbactam. Across 5124 drug-bug combinations, 55 VMEs (1.1%), 42 MEs (0.8%), and 203 mEs (4.0%) were identified. The Selux DX system achieved a markedly shorter average turnaround time of 5.5 h compared with 16 h for the MicroScan system, though at the cost of a longer setup time.

The Selux DX system provides rapid and reliable phenotypic AST results, supporting earlier clinical decision-making and antimicrobial stewardship. However, discrepancies with certain antimicrobial agents, particularly among highly resistant reference isolates, highlight the need for further validation in larger, multicenter studies.