Development of a rapid test for diagnosing hard-to-treat VRE bacteria
This illustration depicts a three-dimensional (3D) computer-generated image of a cluster of paired, or diplococcal, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) bacteria. The artistic recreation was based upon scanning electron microscopic (SEM) imagery.
Enterococcus faecium is a bacterium that is naturally resistant to many common antibiotics. Particularly in vulnerable patient groups, such as immunocompromised individuals, the bacterium can cause infections that are difficult to treat and therefore poses a significant problem as a nosocomial pathogen. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) is among the most concerning antibiotic-resistant pathogens, as treatment options are severely limited. The resistance is due to the VanA or VanB enzyme complexes, which render vancomycin ineffective. However, VanB is often not reliably detected in standard diagnostic susceptibility tests, which can lead to ineffective therapies and the further spread of VRE.
The team led by Dr. Alexander Klimka, a researcher at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) from the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene (IMMIH), is collaborating with Dr. Paul Higgins (IMMIH and DZIF) and a Belgian industry partner to develop an antibody-based rapid VRE test capable of reliably detecting the expression of VanA and VanB. The prototype of this rapid VRE test will then be evaluated using various clinical isolates and an in vitro intestinal model developed by Dr. Thomas Fließwasser (University Hospital Bonn), with the aim of bringing it to market in collaboration with the industry partner. “Our goal is to develop a rapid test that reliably detects both resistance mechanisms and can be easily integrated into everyday diagnostic practice,” says Dr. Alexander Klimka. To this end, Dr. Tamara Rügamer, senior physician at IMMIH, will conduct a clinical study to test whether the test can be integrated into the workflow of a university diagnostic laboratory and thereby contribute to a significantly simplified, safe, and ultimately more cost-effective diagnosis of VRE.
The University Hospital Cologne and the DZIF can draw on relevant experience in joint, translational test development. Dr. Alexander Klimka, Dr. Paul Higgins, and other IMMIH staff, together with the Belgian industry partner, have already successfully brought two rapid tests for the detection of carbapenemase-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii to market (OXA-23 K-SeT, 2018, and RESIST-ACINETO, 2022).
Source: Press release of University Hospital Cologne (in German)
