Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/10/antimicrobial-resistance-scan-oct-06-2016
Antimicrobial Resistance Scan for Oct 06, 2016
Microbiome stewardship research; BARDA funds rapid diagnostic test
Filed Under:
Microbiome; Antimicrobial Stewardship
[h=3]CDC funds antibiotic stewardship research focused on the human microbiome[/h] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today awarded more than $14 million toward novel approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, including those that address a person's microbiome, or the vast population of microorganisms that live inside and on the body.
The awards, made through the CDC's Broad Agency Announcement, support activities for 34 projects under the agency's Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative, the CDC said in a news release. The initiative, which also provides funding for state health departments and other partners, implements the tracking, prevention, and antibiotic stewardship activities outlined in the White House's National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, developed last year.
The awards will go to 22 universities, 2 nonprofits (The Joint Commission and OpenBiome), and one commercial company?Synthetic Biologics, Inc., of Rockville, Md. Some institutions will be conducting more than one project.
Antibiotics can disrupt the microbiome by changing the balance of good and bad bacteria, which can make patients susceptible to drug-resistant bacteria. Those resistant bacteria can then spread to other people, especially those who also have a disrupted microbiome or compromised immune system.
The research funded by the awards will explore the relationships between antibiotics, the microbiome, and the consequences of widespread antibiotic use. Areas of research include how antibiotics disrupt a healthy microbiome, how a disrupted microbiome puts patients at risk, and how antibiotic stewardship can be improved to better protect the microbiome.
"Understanding the role the microbiome plays in antibiotic-resistant infections is necessary to protect the public's health," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH.
Oct 6 CDC news release
[h=3]BARDA awards contract for development of rapid diagnostic test[/h] The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded healthcare technology company DNA Electronics an $8.5 million contract to support development of a next-generation sequencing platform for rapid diagnosis of antimicrobial-resistant infections and influenza, according to news releases from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the company.
The money will enable the company to support further development and testing of its Genalysis platform, which can sequence and analyze the DNA from blood samples or swabs and identify the pathogen within 2 to 4 hours. The technology would allow doctors to quickly determine the bacteria responsible for infections and their associated level of resistance. It would also diagnose the specific strain of influenza virus in a flu patient. Under current methods, obtaining that information takes several days.
"More rapid diagnoses will allow clinicians to ensure the right treatment is being given, providing faster care for their patients and potentially curbing the spread of pathogens," Richard Hatchett, MD, acting director of BARDA, said in a statement. "This platform could help enable a faster and more accurate public health response to pandemic influenza and antibiotic resistant infections."
The first product will be a rapid blood-to-result diagnostic system for serious bloodstream infections leading to sepsis, which is responsible for 200,000 US deaths a year. Company officials say the device can be operated by users who don't have specific training in sequencing and has the potential to save lives, reduce time spent in critical care, and improve antibiotics stewardship.
The device is currently in late-stage testing and development. If it receives approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it could be on the market in 2018. The BARDA contract could be extended for up to 4 years and $51.9 million as the company seeks FDA clearance.
BARDA is a division of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within HHS.
Sep 30 HHS press release
Sep 30 DNA Electronics press release
Antimicrobial Resistance Scan for Oct 06, 2016
Microbiome stewardship research; BARDA funds rapid diagnostic test
Filed Under:
Microbiome; Antimicrobial Stewardship
[h=3]CDC funds antibiotic stewardship research focused on the human microbiome[/h] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today awarded more than $14 million toward novel approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, including those that address a person's microbiome, or the vast population of microorganisms that live inside and on the body.
The awards, made through the CDC's Broad Agency Announcement, support activities for 34 projects under the agency's Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative, the CDC said in a news release. The initiative, which also provides funding for state health departments and other partners, implements the tracking, prevention, and antibiotic stewardship activities outlined in the White House's National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, developed last year.
The awards will go to 22 universities, 2 nonprofits (The Joint Commission and OpenBiome), and one commercial company?Synthetic Biologics, Inc., of Rockville, Md. Some institutions will be conducting more than one project.
Antibiotics can disrupt the microbiome by changing the balance of good and bad bacteria, which can make patients susceptible to drug-resistant bacteria. Those resistant bacteria can then spread to other people, especially those who also have a disrupted microbiome or compromised immune system.
The research funded by the awards will explore the relationships between antibiotics, the microbiome, and the consequences of widespread antibiotic use. Areas of research include how antibiotics disrupt a healthy microbiome, how a disrupted microbiome puts patients at risk, and how antibiotic stewardship can be improved to better protect the microbiome.
"Understanding the role the microbiome plays in antibiotic-resistant infections is necessary to protect the public's health," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH.
Oct 6 CDC news release
[h=3]BARDA awards contract for development of rapid diagnostic test[/h] The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded healthcare technology company DNA Electronics an $8.5 million contract to support development of a next-generation sequencing platform for rapid diagnosis of antimicrobial-resistant infections and influenza, according to news releases from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the company.
The money will enable the company to support further development and testing of its Genalysis platform, which can sequence and analyze the DNA from blood samples or swabs and identify the pathogen within 2 to 4 hours. The technology would allow doctors to quickly determine the bacteria responsible for infections and their associated level of resistance. It would also diagnose the specific strain of influenza virus in a flu patient. Under current methods, obtaining that information takes several days.
"More rapid diagnoses will allow clinicians to ensure the right treatment is being given, providing faster care for their patients and potentially curbing the spread of pathogens," Richard Hatchett, MD, acting director of BARDA, said in a statement. "This platform could help enable a faster and more accurate public health response to pandemic influenza and antibiotic resistant infections."
The first product will be a rapid blood-to-result diagnostic system for serious bloodstream infections leading to sepsis, which is responsible for 200,000 US deaths a year. Company officials say the device can be operated by users who don't have specific training in sequencing and has the potential to save lives, reduce time spent in critical care, and improve antibiotics stewardship.
The device is currently in late-stage testing and development. If it receives approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it could be on the market in 2018. The BARDA contract could be extended for up to 4 years and $51.9 million as the company seeks FDA clearance.
BARDA is a division of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within HHS.
Sep 30 HHS press release
Sep 30 DNA Electronics press release