Bactometer, a biological detector, uses an appealing solution to combat antimicrobial resistance in health centers. It integrates magnetic methods and maker knowing to discover bacteria and their resistance systems, providing lead to under an hour. Credit: INESC Brussels Hub
Bactometer, established over 15 years of research, is a rapid biological detector targeting antimicrobial resistance in medical facilities. Integrating magnetic approaches with device knowing, it assures to curb the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, substantially improving client results.
Bactometer is a biological detector developed to reinforce the fight versus antimicrobial resistance in health center environments.
It serves as a precise screening system, comparable to innovative methods such as PCR.
Not only can the gadget produce lead to under an hour, however it is likewise easy to use, requiring no previous experience similar to the COVID test. Its expense lines up with that of lab cultures, a frequently used yet less precise approach in this domain.
Technical Overview
The Bactometers ingenious functions originate from the incorporation of magnetic methods and “expert system” (maker learning), a departure from the optical approaches prevalent in a lot of existing innovations.
In regards to strategies it integrates the following 2:
Cell detection;
Nucleic acid (DNA, RNA) analysis.
The employment of magnetic innovation makes the device invulnerable to sample background disturbances as there is no presence of magnetic content in biological matrices. The sample goes through an automatic sample preparation module were the target bacteria is captured and concentrated, followed by a germs detection step.
Bactometer gadget schematic. Credit: INESC Brussels Hub
The project was started and kept track of by IST professors: Prof. Paulo Freitas, Prof. Susana Cardoso, Prof. Moisés Piedade, Prof. Jorge Fernandes, and Prof. Gonçalo Tavares.
Magnomics start-up members Dr. Filipe Cardoso, Dr. José Germano, Dr. Verónica Romão, and Sofia Martins also contributed to the device development.
The start …
Portugal 2022 eAwards
Bactometer project won a 10.000 EUR prize at Portugal 2022 eAwards, awarded by the NTT DATA FOUNDATION. It represented Portugal in the Global eAwards final, held in Madrid (24 -26 October 2022). It wasnt the winner, it was amongst the 15 winning projects from Europe and Latin America which is an essential accomplishment.
HiTech training
The task team participated in the 14-week HiTech commercialization program. This program is focused on research groups seeking assistance to bring the technologies developed in the research activities to the market.This training was essential for the tasks dive start, allowing the definition of business strategy and the validation of the area of greatest impact for the preliminary stage of the devices entry into the market– Intensive Care Units (ICU).
EIT Health RIS Innovation
In January 2023 it was among the winners of the EIT Health RIS Innovation Call program which will allow the continuity of the task. This program uses access to funding, mentoring, training services, and networking chances to health innovators from the Regional Innovation Scheme countries.
Team and Skills
The task group is composed of 4 elements:
Diogo Caetano (Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD, from IST).
Ruben Afonso (finishing Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD, IST).
Débora Albuquerque (completing Biomedical Engineering PhD, IST).
Ana Rita Soares (Technological Physics PhD, from IST).
Bactometer, a biological detector, offers an appealing solution to fight antimicrobial resistance in healthcare facilities. Bactometer task won a 10.000 EUR reward at Portugal 2022 eAwards, awarded by the NTT DATA FOUNDATION. It is estimated that multidrug-resistant germs cause about 4.5 million healthcare facility infections every year in Europe. Every day, patients colonized with multidrug-resistant bacteria who are seen in the Intensive Care Units of medical facilities for treatment of other acute conditions present these bacteria into the healthcare facility environment. With less contact, there is less possibility of bacteria spreading out, leading to a reduction in total number of infections, and as a result, fewer additional medical facility days.
Each one has its own focus and duties within the job: Diogo Caetano– Design of high-precision acquisition systems for sensors (magnetic, when it comes to the Bactometer). Ruben Afonso– Development of hardware to interface with sensors.Débora Albuquerque– Detection of infectious diseases using nucleic acid detection.Ana Rita Soares– development of the magnetic Bactometer sensors, in microfluidics and in the biological labeling of the target analytes.
Saving Lives.
It is approximated that multidrug-resistant bacteria cause about 4.5 million hospital infections every year in Europe. Every day, clients colonized with multidrug-resistant bacteria who are seen in the Intensive Care Units of medical facilities for treatment of other severe conditions present these microorganisms into the hospital environment. These microorganisms establish more resistance and infect 1/5 of hospitalized clients.
Bactometer will allow efficient and quick recognition of the pressure of germs and its resistance systems, minimizing the present waiting time of 48-72h (with the lab culture technique) to less than 1h.
With the collection of this details in a much shorter period of time, it will be possible to supply the client in a prompt way, increased aseptic care (ultimate seclusion), and restrict the prophylactic use/abuse of prescription antibiotics that has actually considerably contributed to the boost of the issue. When used at the entrance in ICUs and long-term care facilities, Bactometer can be a tool to rapidly and properly diagnose AMR infections, permitting isolation measurements to be executed in these companies before they have the ability to spread out to other patients. With less contact, there is less chance of germs spreading out, leading to a reduction in total number of infections, and as a result, fewer additional healthcare facility days. A research study carried out in 2020, revealed that by decreasing the spread of AMR to decrease incidences, we could decrease additional health center days by more than 40%.
These advantages may extend to society, both in terms of the health and lifestyle of the users, and in regards to economy, as it may result in savings in technical and human resources. This task is a fine example of how technology can contribute to solving social and health issue.
The gadget is currently being evaluated at CHULN (University Hospital Center Lisbo Norte– Santa Maria Hospital) in collaboration with ISAMB (Institute of Environmental Health).