Healthcare professionals regularly prescribe antibiotics to patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms. However, this is often without knowing for sure that an infection is present, or whether the infection (if it exists) is resistant to the antibiotics prescribed. There are potentially serious consequences for some, such as the very young or very old, if their infection is not managed promptly with the right antibiotic.
Resistance to one of the most common antibiotics used in primary and community care has been found to be 34%. Resistance to other first-line antibiotics is also rising. UTIs are the most common confirmed bacterial infection.
The project team is led by Bristol University staff Dr Massimo Antognozzi at the School of Physics and Dr Matthew Booker at the Centre for Academic Primary Care. It is made up of researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Sheffield Hallam, alongside device development experts from FluoretiQ Ltd and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Helen Baxter, NIHR ARC West’s knowledge mobilisation specialist, is leading on stakeholder and patient engagement.
GPs have identified research into testing for the presence of resistant infections as a high clinical priority. The team’s discussions with patient groups have emphasised the benefit of a test in the community that can provide a result in less than an hour. A recent review found that no existing technology met the threshold for recommending implementation in the NHS as part of the treatment of UTI.
The team have developed a prototype test using subcellular fluctuation imaging (SCFI) technology. SCFI is a light scattering measurement technique which can detect whether bacteria in a fluid treated with antibiotics are resistant or not within 30 minutes. This technology is now at a stage where an end-user device could be ready in about three years, thanks to the NIHR funding.
Dr Massimo Antognozzi said:
“To develop a device that works in a healthcare setting, we need to have a detailed understanding of the requirements of end-users. The technology needs to be adapted to the constraints and requirements of GPs and other community healthcare workers. It needs to satisfy commissioners that it’s a good investment, while addressing what’s important to patients.”
“The NIHR’s Invention for Innovation funding will help us fast track this exciting technology while making sure it’s useful and appropriate for its end users.”
Dr Matthew Booker said:
“Antimicrobial resistance is a huge healthcare problem, recognised as a priority by everyone from the World Health Organization to the Wellcome Trust. With urinary tract infections being so common, improving how they are treated could make a big impact on appropriate antibiotic use. We believe our technology will make a real difference, both in helping patients get timely treatment and preventing antibiotics from being over-prescribed.”
Josephine Dohr, FluoretiQ Chief Technology Officer, said:
"We think that SCFI is a game changer for effective antimicrobial stewardship. FluoretiQ looks forward to an exciting collaboration to deliver a fast and accurate point of care product to improve UTI patient outcomes.''