Tackling the threat of antimicrobial resistance
We are developing a new technology that can help patients get the right antibiotic faster, reducing antibiotic use to combat the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Key facts
AMR is one of the greatest threats to public health worldwide, leading to a growing number of infections that cannot be treated with standard antibiotics
Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use, particularly of broad-spectrum antibiotics, is essential to slow the rise in AMR
Prof Hywel Morgan developed the iFAST test, which can help patients get the right antibiotic up to ten times faster
This has led to the creation of a new rapid diagnostics company
A global concern
AMR is estimated to cause over a million deaths and contribute to around five million deaths every year. It is a global concern.
It happens when bacteria change so that an antibiotic can no longer kill them. It occurs naturally over time through genetic changes, but is accelerated by human activity.
Doctors can currently find out if an antibiotic can be used to treat a bacterial infection by sending a sample to a microbiology laboratory. Bacteria are grown on a petri dish to review how effectively antibiotics kill the bacteria. The technique, known as a disc diffusion test, takes two to three days.
During this time, patients may be prescribed an antibiotic that doesn’t work. Alternatively, they might be given a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can have unwanted side effects.
This unnecessary use of antibiotics can accelerate AMR and the number of hard-to-treat infections.
Getting results faster
Prof Hywel Morgan has developed a pioneering new technique that can help patients get the right antibiotic faster. He is part of the NIHR Southampton BRC.
The method, known as iFAST, briefly grows a sample of bacteria in the presence of different antibiotics. This is then loaded onto a microfluidic chip.
The chip measures the electrical properties of thousands of individual bacteria in 30 seconds. This can show if there has been damage to the bacteria.
Results can be given in under three hours for blood, and four hours for raw urine samples. This decreased time to diagnosis may enable informed prescribing for doctors.
NIHR investment has been crucial to advancing the development of this innovative test. It would improve patient outcomes across the health service, increase efficiency and save healthcare costs. Crucially, it would also reduce the use of unnecessary antibiotics that risk worsening AMR.
New iFAST company
iFAST has now formally become a spinout company from the University of Southampton.
The impact of research can already be seen in commercial progress of the company, which has 12 employees. In February 2023, the company raised £2 million in an investment round led by QantX.
There is strong potential for ongoing growth as iFAST enters what the company estimates is a $4 billion antimicrobial testing market.
Researchers at the NIHR Southampton BRC are continuing to develop the iFAST technology, investigating other ways in which it could be used.
By giving the best drug sooner every time, the new tests will improve patient outcomes and become an important tool in the global battle against AMR.