A medical device company commercializing a novel technology for detecting bacterial infections in blood, Astek Diagnostics is addressing the problem of inappropriate use of antibiotics: too little or too much. The firm's website notes that the life-threatening Sepsis is a life-threatening condition annually involving more than 1 million US-based patients -- and even more worldwide -- making this one condition a leading causes of death. For those suspected of sepsis/septic shock, rapid initiation of correct antibiotic therapy is crucial: over 270,000 people die each year due to sepsis. Astek Diagnnostic's benchtop diagnostic device employs a single-use cartridge capable (in about one hour) of identification of bacterial infection in the blood antibiotic sensitivity. The firm's first product - EugrisTM, is a benchtop analyzer that - in that one hour - can identify presence of bacterial infection in blood and can perform antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of the bacterium. Result: in very short order, physicians are imformed which antibiotics would best be given to patients.
