A new test that can determine the most effective antibiotic for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in less than six hours has been developed, researchers announced on Mar. 30. The direct-from-urine method could allow doctors to prescribe the correct treatment on the same day, compared to current laboratory methods that take two to three days.
The rapid identification of effective antibiotics is important because delays in treatment can lead to resistance and more serious health complications for patients with UTIs. Faster results may help reduce unnecessary use of ineffective antibiotics and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers from the University of Reading, along with colleagues at the University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, tested 352 urine samples using this new approach. They found that it matched standard reference methods in nearly 97% of cases for seven commonly used UTI antibiotics. A second study using duplicate samples showed over 98% agreement regardless of whether a preservative was added to the sample.
Dr Oliver Hancox, Chief Executive Officer of Astratus Limited—the company bringing the test to market—said: "By the time the laboratory delivers the result under current methods, a patient may already have finished their antibiotics, or been given ones that do not work.
"Being able to tell a doctor the same day which antibiotic to use means the patient gets the right treatment sooner, reducing the risk of resistance developing and their infection turning into potentially lethal sepsis."
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: "This NIHR-funded research not only has the potential to deliver quicker, more effective treatments to patients suffering with UTIs - but also tackles the broader challenge of antimicrobial resistance. The rapid urine test is a fantastic example of real-world solutions to AMR that the government committed to developing in its 10-Year Health Plan."
According to NHS data cited by researchers, there have been more than 800,000 hospital admissions related to UTIs across England over five years. About one quarter of all urine samples analyzed contained bacteria resistant to common antibiotics; roughly 65 million urine samples are tested each year in Britain.
The new process eliminates overnight culturing by allowing simple processing: tubes preloaded with different antibiotics are dipped directly into urine before being placed into an instrument where optical imaging tracks bacterial growth. If no growth occurs in a tube containing an antibiotic, it indicates effectiveness against infection; if bacteria grow despite exposure, another drug should be prescribed.
Professor Matthew Inada-Kim from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "UTIs are a common reason that patients need antibiotics, and getting the right treatment first time could be a lifesaver.
"A test that works on samples we already collect as standard and gives us answers on same day is exactly kind tool that could change how we manage these infections in practice."
This development marks an important milestone for Astratus Limited—a spin-out founded by members of research team at University Reading—as they move toward making this technology available.
