Accelr8 Announces Study Results with Rapid ESBL Test for Broad Resistance in Gram-Negative Pathogens
November 06 2008 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Accelr8 Technology Corporation (Amex: AXK) announced study results
today that were presented at the joint sessions of the 48th Annual
Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
(ICAAC, www.icaac.org) and the Infectious Diseases Society of
America (IDSA, www.idsociety.org), October 25-29 in Washington, DC.
The purpose of the study was to characterize a rapid test run on
Accelr8�s BACcel� diagnostic system to detect a broad multiple
antibiotic resistance mechanism known as �ESBL,� which stands for
�extended spectrum beta-lactamase.� This type of resistance
includes hundreds of variant enzymes produced by pathogenic
bacteria. The enzymes destroy almost all drugs in the beta-lactam
antibiotic class, which is the largest single family of antibiotics
and contains more than 50 different types. Beta-lactams include
penicillins and cephalosporins. They are the most widely prescribed
antibiotics and most favored because of their speed, potency, and
safety. ESBLs represent one of the most threatening, rapidly
spreading, complex forms of drug resistance according to IDSA and
the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Organisms
that express ESBLs also tend to carry additional resistance
mechanisms against other antibiotic families. Therefore ESBLs also
serve as markers of multiple drug resistance (MDR) or �superbugs.�
Standard culture-based confirmation tests for ESBLs typically
require 2-3 days to perform. Using pure clinical strains, the new
study demonstrated reportable test results in 90 to 180 minutes.
The test achieved sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 96%, on 53
positive and 73 negative (control) strains. The test used the same
agents as standard tests, but performed with high speed and
accuracy through the use of automated microscopy and image analysis
of small numbers of immobilized individual bacteria. The research
investigators included scientists from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital
and the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (St.
Louis, MO), and from Accelr8. The study analyzed bacterial strains
previously characterized for ESBL expression, and control strains
that lacked the resistance enzymes. Species included Klebsiella
pneumoniae and E. coli, which commonly infect ICU patients. These
species are leading members of a large family of bacteria that
account for approximately 25% to 35% of serious hospital
infections. The company had previously presented results for two
different tests designed for �Staph� infections (including MRSA).
The new test expands the diagnostic spectrum into a larger class of
organisms known as �Gram-negative� bacteria that are more numerous
than �Staph� in the ICU, more highly resistant, more difficult to
identify, and more difficult to treat. Accelr8 plans to add more
tests for the other problematic resistance types found in the same
pathogen groups. Accelr8 also plans to expand with a third category
of highly resistant bacteria that includes Pseudomonas and
Acinetobacter. This latter category accounts for as many as
one-third of dangerous ICU infections that are the most difficult
to diagnose and treat. According to David Howson, Accelr8's
president, �these new results make the BACcel system the first
rapid platform to demonstrate realistic potential to simultaneously
analyze all of the most dangerous bacteria in the ICU. This is the
first reported practical rapid test to address Gram-negative
bacteria. We have achieved unprecedented speed with high accuracy
on resistance types whose nature precludes alternative rapid
diagnostic technology such as gene identification. When we add the
test time to the short time needed for sample preparation and
organism identification, the total time to result is well within
our original goal of 8 hours after receiving a specimen. In
addition, the numbers of bacteria required for accurate analysis
are well within the range available directly from a specimen
without prior culturing. This progress supports our commitment to
expand the BACcel system�s analytical spectrum and achieve our
performance objectives.� About Accelr8 Accelr8 Technology
Corporation (www.accelr8.com) is a developer of innovative
materials and instrumentation for advanced applications in medical
instrumentation, basic research, drug discovery, and bio-detection.
Accelr8 is developing rapid clinical pathogen platforms, the
BACcel�, based on its innovative surface coatings, assay
processing, and detection technologies. In addition, Accelr8
licenses certain of its proprietary technology for use in
applications outside of Accelr8�s own products. Certain statements
in this news release may be �forward-looking statements� within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Statements regarding future prospects and developments are based
upon current expectations and involve certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results and developments to
differ materially from the forward-looking statement, including
those detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Accelr8 does not undertake an obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information or future events.
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