On the Radar…

The FDA announced the approval of the KeyPath MRSA/MSSA Blood Culture Test, manufactured by MicroPhage, Inc. The test can identify whether the bacteria in a patient’s blood culture sample is methicillin resistant (MRSA) or methicillin susceptible (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus within five hours after the first bacterial growth in the sample – compared to the 48 to 72 hours required for traditional techniques. This improved speed will allow for patient’s to begin effective antibiotic treatment more quickly. The test does not require any special equipment, beyond blood culture equipment, to get results. MicroPhage’s technology relies on bacteriaphages, viruses that infect bacteria. Each phage is specific to and will only infect and multiply in one certain type of bacteria. These phages multiply at rates 50 to 200 times that of bacteria, meaning they will reach detectable levels long before the bacteria themselves. MicroPhage is based in Longmont, Colorado.