Microbial Susceptibility Assessment via Glucose Consumption Rate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining microbial susceptibility to antibiotics are time-consuming and lack efficiency, requiring extensive incubation periods and separate measurement processes, which hinders rapid assessment of antibiotic effectiveness in clinical and environmental settings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cultivating glucose-metabolizing microorganisms in culture media with and without antibiotic agents, measuring glucose concentration over time, and calculating a susceptibility score based on the rate of glucose consumption, allowing for rapid assessment of antibiotic efficacy and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional agar plate methods with incubation are used to determine antibiotic susceptibility, then measurement accuracy is improved, but assessment time increases significantly (24 hours)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/agricultural analogy of plant growth measurement with direct microbial metabolic measurement. Instead of measuring physical growth rings after incubation, the system measures glucose consumption rates metabolically, substituting a time-intensive physical measurement process with a rapid biochemical assay that yields results in minutes rather than hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing the metabolic relationship between glucose consumption and microbial growth status. The system prepares calibration curves and reference data in advance that correlate glucose consumption rates with antibiotic susceptibility, allowing rapid assessment without requiring full incubation periods for direct observation of growth inhibition.
2Measurement precision
If separate mass spectrometer measurement is used to determine microbial resistance, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and process steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a measurement system that can handle multiple antibiotic susceptibility determinations using a single integrated approach. The system measures glucose consumption for different antibiotics and microorganisms using the same basic methodology and equipment, eliminating the need for separate specialized instruments like mass spectrometers for each measurement type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces glucose consumption rate as an intermediary parameter that mediates between antibiotic presence and microbial growth status. Instead of directly measuring complex microbial responses requiring sophisticated instrumentation, the system uses glucose consumption as a simple, measurable intermediary that correlates with antibiotic susceptibility, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If fully synthetic culture medium is used for mass spectrometric measurement, then measurement reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable single-use culture medium containers that are pre-filled with standardized culture medium containing glucose. This eliminates the need for complex medium preparation and sterilization processes, while ensuring consistent, reliable measurements. The disposable nature guarantees that each measurement uses fresh, uncontaminated medium, maintaining reliability without requiring complex manufacturing or preparation procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables faster determination of microbial susceptibility and antibiotic efficacy, reducing the time required for assessments from hours to minutes, facilitating timely antibiotic selection in clinical and environmental applications.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the rate of change in glucose concentration in the respective media
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for analysing susceptibility of a glucose metabolizing microorganism to at least one antibiotic agent, comprising cultivating the microorganism in a culture medium in the presence and absence of antibiotic agent and measuring the rate of change in glucose concentration in the respective media. The invention further relates to a method for assessing efficacy of a candidate antibiotic agent in treatment of a medical condition caused or complicated by an infection by using the method according to the invention, as well as a culture medium suitable for use in the methods.