Vol. 1, Issue 1 ‣ April 2024
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The Winnable Battles: HAIs and Antimicrobial Stewardship
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Control of drug-resistant organisms is a global problem. Pathogens are acquiring resistance and developing novel ways of bypassing antimicrobials at unprecedented rates.
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Drug discovery has dropped precipitously, and certain bacteria strains are becoming harder to fight.¹ In some instances, orders of bacteria, such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are untreatable using most available drugs, limiting treatment options drastically.
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Transmission of healthcare-acquired pathogens (HAP) is chiefly related to the contamination of surfaces and equipment, including medical devices (e.g. catheters and ventilators).²,⁷
Although significant progress has been made in preventing some healthcare-associated infection types over the last decade, there is much more work to be done. On any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI) with more than 680,000 infections and billions of dollars in excess health care costs related to HAIs across the United States every year.³
Furthermore, many of these infections are caused by antibiotic-resistant (AR) pathogens. HAIs and other infections can also lead to sepsis, which causes an estimated 1.7 million illnesses and 270,000 deaths annually in the United States⁴...
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Product Spotlight: CARBA 5 AND HardyCHROM™ CRE
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CARBAPENEM- RESISTANT
Enterobacterales are a rising threat.
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With these two tools, you are in the fight against the worldwide threat of CRE.
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Using HardyCHROM™ CRE + CARBA 5, saves time, money and resources, but more importantly, accelerates detection for faster and more accurate treatment.
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HardyCHROM™ CRE is a selective and differential chromogenic agar medium intended for the qualitative and presumptive detection from stool specimens. Escherichia coli that are non-susceptible to carbapenems show as pink colonies and KES (Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae complex, and Serratia marcescens) that are non-susceptible to carbapenems as blue colonies. Learn more about HardyCHROM™ CRE here.
NG-Test® CARBA 5 is the only rapid, multiplex, phenotypic test capable of detecting KPC, OXA-48-like, VIM, IMP, and NDM carbapenemases produced by Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Learn more about NG-Test® CARBA 5 here.
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The human body is home to approximately 100 trillion bacterial cells, outnumbering human cells by a factor of ten and collectively weighing about three pounds, equivalent to the weight of the human brain.
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Antibiotics play a significant role in our lives, with over 258 million courses prescribed annually in the United States alone. Shockingly, by age two, the average American child has already received nearly three courses of antibiotics, setting the stage for long-term microbial shifts.
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The microbiome, consisting of trillions of bacteria inhabiting the human body, contributes to vital functions such as extracting up to 15% of the calories from our food, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between humans and their microbial counterparts.
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Modern medical practices, including the routine administration of antibiotics during childbirth and infancy, are linked to rising rates of conditions like asthma and juvenile diabetes. Studies suggest that early-life exposure to antibiotics can alter microbial development, potentially predisposing individuals to these chronic diseases later in life.
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Does this ball appear to be moving?
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View our most-watched videos about the innovative NG-Test® CARBA 5
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Rapid detection and differentiation of the five most common carbapenemases produced by Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance mechanisms. NG-Test® CARBA 5 is a lateral flow assay for quick, clear detection of the “big 5” carbapenemase enzymes produced by Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa.
Learn more: http://hardydiagnostics.com/carba5/
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Detection of carbapenemase producing organisms, advancements and barriers to the clinical laboratory presented by Nathan Ledeboer, PhD.
Learn more: http://hardydiagnostics.com/carba5/
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Megan Maloney Roesner, an award-winning journalist, marketer, and current Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Marketing Product Manager at Hardy Diagnostics, brings over 20 years of experience in brand management, healthcare marketing, and communications to her role:
"I hope you have enjoyed this first issue of the Clinical MICRObits. This newsletter is created to provide our readers with up-to-date information within the world of clinical microbiology as well as highlight the product solutions offered by Hardy Diagnostics. Each month, we hope to bring you topical articles relevant to your laboratory with helpful tips, new products and some whimsy to lighten your day."
If you have any suggestions for content, a comment, or a question, please contact Megan here.
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Subscribe now to MicroBytes, the monthly newsletter crafted by microbiologists for microbiologists, packed with thought-provoking articles, witty comics, historical heroes, pun-filled fun, brain teasers, tutorial videos, featured products, and more!
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"A Culture of Service"
Hardy Diagnostics, 1430 West McCoy Lane, Santa Maria, CA, 93455, USA, +1.800.266.2222
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