A new rapid urine test could transform how urinary tract infections (UTIs) are treated, allowing doctors to identify the most effective antibiotic in just a few hours rather than days.
New test can speed up UTI treatment
Researchers from the University of Reading, University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust say the test could improve patient outcomes and help tackle the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Currently, diagnosing a UTI and identifying the best antibiotic can take two to three days, as samples must be sent to a lab for analysis. During this time, patients are often prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic as a precaution, which may not always be effective.
Dr Oliver Hancox, chief executive of Astratus Limited, which developed the technology, said delays in current testing can have serious consequences.
He said: “By the time the laboratory delivers the result under current methods, a patient may already have finished their antibiotics or been given ones that do not work."
He added: “Being able to tell a doctor the same day which antibiotic to use means patients would get the right treatment sooner, reducing the risk of resistance developing and their infection turning into potentially lethal sepsis.”
UTIs are common, with around half of women in the UK affected at some point in their lives, according to the NHS. Symptoms can include pain, frequent urges to urinate and abdominal discomfort.
The new test works by using a small cartridge containing multiple fine tubes, each pre-loaded with a different antibiotic. The device is dipped directly into a urine sample and placed into an analyser. Using optical imaging, it monitors whether bacteria grow in each tube. If growth is stopped, the antibiotic is effective; if not, it is unsuitable.
Professor Matthew Inada-Kim, a consultant acute physician at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust and researcher at the University of Southampton, said the innovation could change clinical practice.
He explained: "UTIs are a common reason that patients need antibiotics and getting the right treatment first time could be a lifesaver.
"A test that works on samples we already collect as standard, and gives us answers the same day, is exactly the kind of tool that could change how we manage these infections in practice."
Experts say faster, more targeted treatment could cut unnecessary antibiotic use, helping slow the rise of drug-resistant infections.