Breathe Easy Week – The Most Comprehensive Screening Test for Infections
Breathe Easy Week takes place from the 18th-24th June 2018. Each year, Breathe Easy Week raises awareness of lung conditions and funds life-changing research and support of those with lung conditions.
Respiratory Tract Infections
Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are caused by many viral and bacterial pathogens and are the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.1
Acute respiratory infection, can interfere with normal breathing. It can affect just your upper respiratory system, which starts at your sinuses and ends at your vocal chords. It can also affect just your lower respiratory system, which starts at your vocal chords and ends at your lungs.
Every year, influenza causes respiratory tract infections in 5-15% of the population and severe illness in 3-5million people.2 The infection is particularly dangerous for children, older adults and people with immune system disorders.
Upper respiratory tract infection can lead to acute asthma exacerbations, acute otitis media. While lower respiratory tract infection can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia.3 Respiratory tract infections can result in prolonged hospital stays and present a significant cost burden to public health systems worldwide.
Antibiotic Resistance
In recent years, some pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae have acquired resistance to antibiotics, rendering the drugs ineffective in treating disease.
This can largely be attributed to patient misuse of antibiotics as well as inappropriate prescribing by healthcare professionals. For example, antibiotics are ineffective against many respiratory tract infections, particularly viral infections, yet in the UK, RTI’s account for 60% of antibiotic prescriptions in primary care.
Correct identification and diagnosis of bacterial and/or viral pathogens is therefore critical to inform correct prescribing of antibiotics.
Randox Biosciences Offerings
The Respiratory Multiplex Array is the most comprehensive screening test for infections of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. It simultaneously detecting 22 bacterial and viral pathogens from a single sputum, lavage or nasopharyngeal sample.
Our Respiratory Multiplex Array, utilises a simple swab or sputum test which could help curb the antibiotic resistance pandemic. It can subsequently aid clinicians in the selection of the most appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients. In many cases, such as viral infections, the use of antibiotics can be avoided, improving antibiotic stewardship.
The array is based on a combination of multiplex PCR and biochip array hybridisation. Innovative PCR and biochip array technology permits high discrimination between multiple targets.
A unique primer set is designed for each target which will hybridise to a complementary oligo-nucleotide probe spotted on a biochip discrete test region (DTR). This combination of priming and spatially organised biochip array technology enables enhanced specificity of the array. Analysis can be completed from template DNA through PCR to data readout in ~6 hours.
The main benefits of the Respiratory Multiplex Array are:
- Turnaround time of ~6 hours from extracted nucleic acid to result
- Validated for sputum, lavage and nasopharyngeal samples
- Panel includes viral and bacterial species to consolidate testing
This Breathe Easy Week, we are urging the public to not only help raise awareness of lung conditions but to educate themselves on the signs and symptoms to increase early diagnosis. As a global diagnostic company, Randox Biosciences are committed to the ongoing development of diagnostic tests, as well as our research into numerous disease areas to improve health worldwide.
To find out more about the products that we offer email us info@randoxbiosciences.com
Sources:
1 – Lancet Infect Dis
2 – Forum of International Respiratory Societies
3 – Mahony, J.B