Lecture
Paper-Based Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling
- at -
- ICM Saal 4b
- Type: Lecture
Lecture description
S. Wali, Munich/DE, H. Sabersky, Munich/DE, S. Russell, Munich/DE, A. Causevic, Munich/DE, N. Wantia, Munich/DE, O. Hayden, Munich/DE
From an analytical and clinical perspective, rapid identification of bacterial infections and timely antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling remain major challenges in routine diagnostics. Conventional culture-based workflows are labor-intensive, require centralized laboratory infrastructure, and delay targeted therapy decisions. While molecular approaches provide fast pathogen detection, they often fail to deliver phenotypic susceptibility information at the point of care.
Here, we present a paper-based point-of-care diagnostic platform that integrates bacterial growth, antimicrobial exposure, and imaging-based readout into a compact and automated analytical workflow. The system employs multilayer paper substrates functionalized with selective culture media and antibiotics, enabling parallel assessment of pathogen presence and antimicrobial response directly from urine samples. Bacterial growth and inhibition are monitored using low-cost optical imaging, allowing quantitative evaluation of signal development over time.
Analytical performance was assessed using clinically relevant uropathogens, demonstrating robust bacterial growth on paper and reproducible differentiation between susceptible and resistant phenotypes. Time-resolved image analysis enables automated signal interpretation and reduces operator dependency, supporting standardized readout in decentralized settings. The platform architecture is compatible with scalable manufacturing and digital integration, facilitating future translation into clinical workflows.
By combining paper-based analytics, imaging, and automation, this approach bridges the gap between rapid pathogen detection and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing at the point of care. The presented system represents a promising step toward accessible, data-driven infection diagnostics and AMR profiling outside centralized laboratories.
From an analytical and clinical perspective, rapid identification of bacterial infections and timely antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling remain major challenges in routine diagnostics. Conventional culture-based workflows are labor-intensive, require centralized laboratory infrastructure, and delay targeted therapy decisions. While molecular approaches provide fast pathogen detection, they often fail to deliver phenotypic susceptibility information at the point of care.
Here, we present a paper-based point-of-care diagnostic platform that integrates bacterial growth, antimicrobial exposure, and imaging-based readout into a compact and automated analytical workflow. The system employs multilayer paper substrates functionalized with selective culture media and antibiotics, enabling parallel assessment of pathogen presence and antimicrobial response directly from urine samples. Bacterial growth and inhibition are monitored using low-cost optical imaging, allowing quantitative evaluation of signal development over time.
Analytical performance was assessed using clinically relevant uropathogens, demonstrating robust bacterial growth on paper and reproducible differentiation between susceptible and resistant phenotypes. Time-resolved image analysis enables automated signal interpretation and reduces operator dependency, supporting standardized readout in decentralized settings. The platform architecture is compatible with scalable manufacturing and digital integration, facilitating future translation into clinical workflows.
By combining paper-based analytics, imaging, and automation, this approach bridges the gap between rapid pathogen detection and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing at the point of care. The presented system represents a promising step toward accessible, data-driven infection diagnostics and AMR profiling outside centralized laboratories.
