InSPECTion: A mass-spec based test for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing in bloodstream infections

Project summary

During the Inspection project a targeted mass spectrometry based diagnostic workflow will be developed which can rapidly detect different antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of important pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae. For this purpose, peptides specific for key resistance mechanisms are selected in silico and tested in vitro by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. This workflow will ultimately be developed for analyzing the microorganisms present in positive blood cultures of patients with sepsis.

Antimicrobial resistance leads to high mortality and morbidity and is considered one of the biggest threats to global health by the WHO. Shorter turnaround times for detection of antimicrobial resistance results in earlier appropriate antibiotic therapy. This can in turn result in a decrease in morbidity and mortality and improve antibiotic stewardship.