Cherry
02-07-2006, 07:37 PM
http://www.laboratorynetwork.com/content/news/article.asp?docid=70b29933-fa6d-4959-a2ab-544780459909
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For the millions who suffer from urinary tract infections (UTI) each year and the doctors who treat them, a promising new biosensor technology has been developed that may replace antiquated testing methods and save precious health care dollars.
In a recent clinical study conducted by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, researchers used a biosensor developed by corporate partner GeneFluidics to correctly identify the infection-causing gram-negative bacteria species in 98 percent of the tested clinical UTI urine samples. These results represent the first ever species-specific detection of bacteria in human clinical fluid samples using a microfabricated electrochemical sensor array.
Of equal significance, the new test provided results in 45 minutes, compared to two days with conventional methods.
UTI is the most common urological disease in the United States and the most common bacterial infection of any organ system. Urinary tract infection is a major cause of patient death and health care expenditures, accounting for more than 7 million office visits and more than 1 million hospital admissions per year. In the hospital, catheter-associated UTI accounts for 40 percent of all in-hospital acquired infections -- more than 1 million cases each year. The total cost of UTI to the United States health care system in 2000 was approximately 3.5 billion dollars.
MORE ON LINK
For the millions who suffer from urinary tract infections (UTI) each year and the doctors who treat them, a promising new biosensor technology has been developed that may replace antiquated testing methods and save precious health care dollars.
In a recent clinical study conducted by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, researchers used a biosensor developed by corporate partner GeneFluidics to correctly identify the infection-causing gram-negative bacteria species in 98 percent of the tested clinical UTI urine samples. These results represent the first ever species-specific detection of bacteria in human clinical fluid samples using a microfabricated electrochemical sensor array.
Of equal significance, the new test provided results in 45 minutes, compared to two days with conventional methods.
UTI is the most common urological disease in the United States and the most common bacterial infection of any organ system. Urinary tract infection is a major cause of patient death and health care expenditures, accounting for more than 7 million office visits and more than 1 million hospital admissions per year. In the hospital, catheter-associated UTI accounts for 40 percent of all in-hospital acquired infections -- more than 1 million cases each year. The total cost of UTI to the United States health care system in 2000 was approximately 3.5 billion dollars.