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Syndromic Testing

World AMR Awareness Week

Join the battle against antimicrobial resistance

Imagine a world where antibiotics no longer work.

A world where common infections can become deadly. Where even minor cuts can lead to serious complications. Where surgeries and cancer treatments become too risky to perform.

Let's take action now and fight the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) (1).

Whether you're a scientist, a public health official or a clinician, we all have a role to play in curbing resistance.

This World AMR Awareness Week, let's join forces. Read on to learn more about the risks of AMR and how we can help you take back control in the fight against AMR.

Risks of AMR

AMR poses the threat of a "post-antibiotic era" where antimicrobials will no longer be effective against infections caused by resistant pathogens. Resistant bacteria are harder to treat and increase morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.

In the USA, AMR is already associated with 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths every year (2). And in Europe, AMR is linked to €1.5 billion in extra healthcare costs and productivity loss (3).

antibiotic, antibiotic resistance, AMR, antimicrobial resistance, macrolide, QIAstat-Dx, syndromic testing, Streptococcus pneumoniae
In this example, increased macrolide antibiotic use was associated with increased macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae across U.S. states. Line shows unweighted linear best fit. Adapted from (5).

Antimicrobial overuse and misuse is one major factor driving the development of antimicrobial resistance. One out of every three antibiotics prescribed is unnecessary (4).

AMR is a complex global problem with no single cause – and no single, easy solution. But we can address this growing threat on two fronts:

  • Study the drivers and epidemiology of AMR
  • Use antimicrobials more responsibly in the clinic

Research & surveillance

Antimicrobial resistance research for known and future threats

Researchers battling the spread of AMR need tools to rapidly profile and identify pathogens, including options for challenging sample types.

Download our guide to discover our complete and reliable workflow. We can support your AMR research needs from sample preparation through sequencing and dPCR to data analysis.

Get the guide

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Clinical diagnostics

Multiplex PCR panel testing to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship

Diagnostic stewardship and antimicrobial stewardship are important tools in our fight against AMR (6).

With them, we can maximize patient outcomes while minimizing the risk of AMR. Fast diagnostic tests are a crucial component of antimicrobial stewardship programs and are recommended in the U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (7).

In particular, multiplex PCR panel tests, also known as syndromic tests, provide quick and definitive pathogen identification that enables rational antimicrobial use.

Multiplex PCR panel testing can support antimicrobial stewardship efforts by (8–11)*:

  • Improving appropriate antiviral treatment and reducing unnecessary antibiotic use (8, 11)
  • Reducing antibiotic treatment duration and ancillary testing (9–11)
  • Providing rapid results to support clinical decision-making (8, 11)

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References
  1. WHO. New report calls for urgent action to avert antimicrobial resistance crisis. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-04-2019-new-report-calls-for-urgent-action-to-avert-antimicrobial-resistance-crisis (Accessed June 16, 2022)
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antibiotic / Antimicrobial Resistance (AR / AMR) https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
  3. Wellcome Trust (2016) Four Diagnostic Strategies for Better-Targeted Antibiotic Use. London: Wellcome Trust. https://wellcome.org/sites/default/files/diagnostic-strategies-for-better-targeted-antibiotic-use-wellcome-jul15.pdf   
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antibiotic Prescribing and Use https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use 
  5. Olesen, S.W., et al. (2018) The distribution of antibiotic use and its association with antibiotic resistance. eLife, 7:e39435
  6. Messacar, K., Parker, S.K., Todd, J.K. and Dominguez, S.R. (2017) Implementation of rapid molecular infectious disease diagnostics: the role of diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship.  J Clin Microbio, 55, 715-723
  7. U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (National Action Plan) https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/us-activities/national-action-plan.html 
  8. McCulloh, R.J. Andrea, S., Reinert, S. and Chapin, K. (2014) Potential Utility of Multiplex Amplification Respiratory Viral Panel Testing in the Management of Acute Respiratory Infection in Children: A Retrospective Analysis. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc, 3, 146-53 
  9. Lowe, C.F., et al. (2017) Antimicrobial stewardship for hospitalized patients with viral respiratory tract infections. Am J Infect Control, 45, 872-875 
  10. Rappo, U. (2016) Impact of early detection of respiratory viruses by multiplex PCR assay on clinical outcomes in adult patients. J Clin Microbiol, 54, 2096-2103 
  11. Blaschke, A.J. (2013) A national study of the impact of rapid influenza testing on clinical care in the emergency department. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc, 3, 112-118

* Unless otherwise stated, data cited pertains to the use of a device from another manufacturer.

For up-to-date licensing information and product-specific disclaimers, see the respective QIAGEN kit instructions for use or user manual. QIAGEN instructions for use and user manuals are available at www.qiagen.com or can be requested from QIAGEN Technical Services (or your local distributor).