Rapid detection of antibiotic susceptibility is upmost important requisite to reduce economic burden imposed by AMR.Damion K. Corrigan at the University of Strathclyde, UK and his colleagues have developed affordable test, which can detect antibiotic resistance in < 45min. They have successfully demonstrated quick detection of one of the deadliest antibiotic-resistant strains, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with their technology. This discovery showed significant improvement over currently practiced method of detection, which takes 1-2 days. This new test employs cheap and commercially available screen-printed electrode amended with an agarose-based hydrogel deposit and uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to monitor bacterial growth and assess antibiotic resistance. This invention will certainly help doctors for early and precise diagnosis of infections and will aid in improving antibiotic stewardship.

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