A platform developed by European researchers may be able to detect the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections faster, which could significantly reduce the time it takes to diagnose the infection.
The researchers were able to identify two strains of bacteria linked to UTIs as well as E. coli in very small samples, according to a paper published in the journal Biomicrofluidics.
"Our device works by loading a few microliters of a patient's urine sample into a tiny chip, which is then rotated with a high angular velocity so that any bacteria is guided by centrifugal force through microfluidic channels to a small chamber where 'V-cup capture units' collect it for optical investigation," Ulrich-Christian Schröder, PhD candidate, lead author of the study, said in a statement.
They report that the method of detection could be used to prescribe appropriate medications and treatments much more quickly, resulting in better outcomes, particularly in preventing sepsis.