Beckman Coulter Sheds Light on Antimicrobial Resistance in the GCC

Capabilities of MicroScan Presented to HCPs in a regional roadshow across Kuwait and Abu Dhabi

Dubai, May - 15, 2017- Beckman Coulter, a worldwide leader in developing clinical diagnostic products and solutions, has introduced the workflow efficiency boosting MicroScan range of solutions to healthcare providers (HCPs) and members of the medical community in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

MicroScan products offer choice in panel formats, setup and speed. Its unique PROMPT™ setup with combo identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing (ID/AST) panels provides flexible workflow. ASTs are growth-based to ensure the detection of resistance while its built-in visual read capability provides added assurance.

To mitigate antimicrobial resistance , the May 2015 World Health Organization adopted a global action plan. Among its key objectives is the optimized use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health.

Haytham El Jammali, Beckman Coulter’s Microbiology Business Manager, Middle East, said, “We are keen to equip the healthcare sector in the industry with the ability to not only reduce the incidence of bacterial infections, but help reduce the over reliance on antibiotics in treating medical conditions. The MicroScan range is entirely scalable and adaptable to labs of any size and can even detect resistance even when historical data is not easily available. The solutions can help identify even the most complex bacterial classes and help advise strategies to control their growth, saving considerable time and resources. This in turn will inform a more focused diagnosis and treatment.” 

Through MicroScan technology, a microbiologist can easily control the growth of bacteria. The disk diffusion method is a very visual approach of AST that MicroScan automates effortlessly. The MicroScan WalkAway plus System is backed by 30 years of ID/AST testing experience. Its advanced Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) technology detects emerging resistance as it occurs, providing accurate results without reliance on historical data or virtual MIC. The technology unearths data and also interprets them, enabling microbiologists and physicians to optimize their antimicrobial strategies, resulting in fewer repeat and confirmatory tests.

The roadshow also highlighted the growing importance in antimicrobial susceptibility testing. MicroScan panels are able to accurately detect carbapenemases , β-lactamases that possess versatile hydrolytic capacities. Carbapenemases have the ability to hydrolyze penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems. 

Bacteria producing these β-lactamases may cause serious infections in which the carbapenemase activity renders many β-lactams ineffective. Similarly, the panels are also able to detect Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA) that is associated with difficult-to-treat infections and high levels of morbidity. Manual practitioners work in environments where MRSA is a common acquired infection.