A company at the forefront of the fight against the MRSA superbug is developing new technology to speed up tests for other potentially deadly hospital infections
Acolyte Biomedica has developed a rapid MRSA screening test which reduces the time taken to diagnose the killer bug from days to just a few hours.
Its unique BacLite test is proving to be a powerful weapon in the battle to reduce the spread of MRSA and could potentially save hundreds of lives and millions of pounds for the NHS each year.
Several NHS and private UK hospitals are currently using BacLite to screen for MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) which is resistant to all but a few expensive and rarely-used antibiotics.
Acolyte Biomedica is now using specially equipped laboratories at Tetricus to develop rapid screening tests for the other antibiotic-resistant hospital bugs including ESBL and VRE.
ESBLs (Extended-spectrum Beta-Lactamases) have been widely detected among E coli bacteria.
These ESBL-producing E coli are able to resist penicillin and antibiotics, and are found in urinary tract infections in the community as well as in hospitals.
VRE (Vancomycin-resistant enterococci) is found in faeces and can cause urinary-tract infections.
It is common among long-stay hospital patients and those on certain antibiotics.
Bill Mullen, Acolyte's chief executive, said: "The more antibiotics we use the more these bugs become resistant to them which are why ESBLs, for example, are rapidly becoming a big problem.
"ESBLs are very difficult to get rid of because they can survive for a long time outside the body.
"Our BacLite technology enables hospitals to screen people who might be at risk much more quickly.
"If they are harbouring the bug then they can be isolated from other people and treated to prevent it causing an outbreak of infection".
Acolyte Biomedica plans to launch the new screening tests for ESBL and VRE in 2008, once they have undergone clinical trials.
Mullen added that being based at Tetricus - which provides a mixture of serviced office and laboratory accommodation for fast-growing biotechnology companies - had been crucial for the successful development of the company's BacLite technology.
"This not the sort of thing you can do on a conventional industrial estate without your neighbours getting worried," he said.
"Tetricus provides a sophisticated and safe environment for this type of work and businesses based here also benefit from the support and expertise at Porton Down which is home to more than 1000 scientists".
Clive Duggleby, general manager of Tetricus, said: "We provide an exceptional environment for innovation in bioscience and related technologies, where young businesses can grow and flourish.
"We offer small companies with big ideas such as Acolyte Biomedica the professional support and infrastructure they need to realise their commercial ambitions."
