Subject Spotlight: Diagnostics Defining Therapy

Testing solutions to streamline laboratory practices and support better patient care

Diagnostics to detect infection and genetic markers for antibiotic resistance support Resistance Guided Therapy, a crucial patient care strategy when treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Prof. Vincent Cattoir


Assessing the SpeeDx total STI testing solution – how laboratory workflow can enable Resistance Guided Therapy
The Director of Department of Bacteriology in Hospital Hygiene Rennes Hospital Prof. Cattoir shares:

  • His view on the need for new, rapid molecular tools to guide therapy and limit AMR spread
  • Preview of a multiplex screening assay (beta) for detection of CT, NG, MG and TV, followed by relevant reflex test cascade for positive samples:
    • Mycoplasma genitalium – ResistancePlus MG for macrolide resistance screening, and MG + ParC (beta) for fluoroquinolone resistance
    • Gonorrhoea – ResistancePlus GC for ciprofloxacin susceptibility
    • Chlamydia – Lymphogranuloma venereum LGV (beta)


 

Dr. Emily Goldstein

Syphilis-slide
Comprehensive lesion testing and the importance of molecular syphilis result
A Senior Biomedical Scientist in West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre (Glasgow Royal Infirmary), Dr. Goldstein discusses:

  • The increasing rates of syphilis disease and importance of early diagnosis and routine screening of all lesions with molecular testing
  • Detection of several syphilis positive patients that would not have been selected for serology syphilis screening, thus may have gone undetected
  • The results of her evaluation of the multiplex test PlexPCR VHS to detect and differentiate Herpes type 1 & 2, varicella zoster, and T. pallidum

Resistance Guided Therapy

Diagnostics that detect infection and genetic markers for antibiotic resistance support Resistance Guided Therapy, a crucial patient care strategy when treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Dr. Jørgen Skov Jensen

Jorgen-Jensen-ECCMID
Molecular tests for M. genitalium resistance to 1st and 2nd -line therapy
A recognised leader in Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) research and diagnostics, Dr. Jensen shares data and insights on:

  • ResistancePlus MG FleXible for the GeneXpert – bringing Resistance Guided Therapy closer to the patient, evaluating Mgen resistance cartridge-based detection.
  • Testing for resistance to 2nd -line antibiotics using the SpeeDx MG + ParC (beta) test

Dr. Kate Templeton

Kate-Templeton-Profile
Practical implementation of ResistancePlus GC -incorporating ciprofloxacin susceptibility with gonorrhoea results
Director of SBSTRIL, national STI reference laboratory in Scotland, Dr. Templeton spotlights gonorrhoea and discusses:

  • Practical implementation of Resistance Guided Therapy for gonorrhoea
  • Potential to disrupt empiric treatment practices and adhere to new BASHH guidelines for preferential use of ciprofloxacin