Living diagnostics

Following their introduction over half a century ago, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) have played an invaluable role in caring for patients who are critically ill or seriously injured. However, infections such as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a common problem in the ICU, resulting in the frequent use and sometimes overuse of life-saving antibiotics in those settings. While antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a process that naturally occurs over time, it is important to note that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, even when utilized in intensive care environments, is contributing to the further emergence of resistant pathogens.

Antibiotics have proven to be essential, life-saving medicines. However, their misuse and overuse have become widespread, contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).1 Today, patients are at risk of premature death due to AMR, and we are in a race to protect modern medicine.

Because anyone can get an infection, anyone can get an infection that leads to sepsis. Signs of sepsis, are, for instancefever or low temperature, confusion, difficulty breathing, high heart rate, and low urine output. Seeking medical care immediately is critical.

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can contaminate food and cause listeriosis – a potentially life-threatening illness if not treated properly. In many respects a perfectly designed bacterial contaminant, Listeria remains hardy even in the face of aggressive cleaning and sanitizing. Unlike many foodborne bacteria, it can survive and even grow even under refrigeration, tolerates salty environments and thrives when it comes into contact with food.