Test That Distinguishes Between Bacterial or Viral Infections

From the pages of CSI: Miami... a commonly used forensic chemical called luminol to identify traces of blood at crime scenes has been modified to be used in a novel medical test that can help differentiate a viral infection from a bacterial infection.

Why is this important?

Not uncommonly, it is sometimes hard to differentiate between a bacterial infection which is treated with antibiotics from a viral infection which is NOT treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, in the healthcare system, too often, antibiotics are given if an infection is present whether viral or bacterial which is leading to multi-drug resistant infections like MRSA.

Well with this test, physicians can potentially use it to determine whether antibiotics should be provided or not. Such a test may also be reassuring to patients who desire antibiotics, but can be told with confidence that it is not necessary and at worst, dangerous.

The way this test works is by identifying the characteristic glow "signature" after luminol is applied to a suspect infection. If it glows a certain way... it's a viral infection. If it glows in a different way... it's a bacterial infection.

For those scientifically inclined and curious, the glow is due to a byproduct of the body's defenses fighting off infection called "Reactive Oxygen Species". The luminol reacts with this byproduct creating a glow.

Of note, the test is not yet available, but perhaps soon???

Reference:
Differentiation between Viral and Bacterial Acute Infections Using Chemiluminescent Signatures of Circulating Phagocytes. Anal. Chem., 2011, 83 (11), pp 4258–4265
DOI: 10.1021/ac200596f Publication Date (Web): April 26, 2011

Think MRSA Infection is Bad? NDM-1 Infection is Worse!

NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1) is an infection for which there is no (or at best maybe only 1 or 2) antibiotic treatment. It is the superman of superbugs.

The NDM-1 actually is a gene that produces an enzyme that deactivates basically all antibiotics and is felt to have originated in India where it was first encountered.

This gene most commonly is found in gram negative organisms like E. Coli and Klebsiella, but the scary thing is that this gene can be transferred from one to another bequeathing its awesome antibiotic resistance. Think superman who can transfer all his powers to a mere mortal easily.

Polymyxins and tigecycline have been found to be the only antibiotics that may have some effect on NDM-1.

Ho-hum superbugs like MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) can still be eradicated by a few antibiotics like clindamycin and bactrim if community acquired and vancomycin and linezolid if hospital acquired.

I have yet to encounter a patient with NDM-1 and pray that I never do in the future.

Read a news article about a patient who survived NDM-1 as Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) here.

Image taken from Wikipedia.

MRSA-Killing Paint Created

Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a high tech paint that safely kills MRSA. This special paint was developed for use on surgical equipment, hospital walls, and other surfaces. When MRSA touches this special coating, it dies preventing the main way this germ travels from one person to another (which is by contact). 100 percent of MRSA in contact with this special paint were killed within 20 minutes.

The paint contains a naturally occurring enzyme called lysostaphin contained within carbon nanotubes. This compound can be mixed into ordinary house paint before application.

Unlike other antimicrobial coatings, it is toxic only to MRSA, does not rely on antibiotics, and does not leach chemicals into the environment or become clogged over time. It can be washed repeatedly without losing effectiveness and has a dry storage shelf life of up to six months.

Reference:
Antistaphylococcal nanocomposite films based on enzyme-nanotube conjugates. ACS Nano. 2010 Jul 27;4(7):3993-4000.