What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
If we do not address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) now, we will lose the ability to safely perform routine medical procedures and surgeries. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites mutate naturally over time and no longer respond to modern medicines making infections harder to treat. As a result, standard antibiotic treatments become ineffective and infections persist, increasing the risk of severe consequences to the patient.
How does Antibiotic Resistance Occur?
The development of resistant bacteria is a natural phenomenon that is exacerbated and accelerated by the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the fields of human and animal health and the inadequate infection control.
1Source: CDC
What is the Cost of Antimicrobial Resistance?
The cost of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is significant and can be measured in terms of human lives lost. It’s a complex issue that requires global attention and coordinated efforts to address.
What is the Solution to Fight the AMR Crisis?
Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) is a commitment to preserve antibiotic efficacy for future generations through appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs. The goal of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives is to ensure that the right antibiotic is given to the right patient at the right time, with the right dose and via the right route – causing the least harm to the patient. In realistic terms, it is a multidisciplinary approach that aims to ensure that patients benefit from the most effective antibiotic treatments, while limiting the side effects and costs of unnecessary treatments.
AMS programs help fight antimicrobial resistance by providing a framework for responsible antibiotics prescribing and use, optimizing individual therapy, helping reduce the spread of resistance and raising awareness & education.
- Improve Labs: countries need medical labs to identify bacteria and choose the right drugs to treat them
- Collect & Share Data: countries need systems to track cases and report results globally to make better policy decisions
- Use Antibiotics Wisely: to ensure antibiotics are here when we need them, they must be prescribed and taken correctly now
- Take Measures to Prevent Infections: especially in healthcare settings, effective infection control practices are critical
What is the bioMérieux Solution for AMR/AMS?
bioMérieux is your trusted partner in today’s healthcare systems. We provide the most comprehensive diagnostics and expertise, enabling hospital laboratories to provide actionable evidence and insights to clinicians, partnering together on improving patient outcomes and creating more effective stewardship programs to fight AMR.
Our complete AMS solution encompasses more than just traditional state-of-the-art lab technology. Because at bioMérieux we fully understand your antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) needs, our offer translates into 4 key areas where we help hospitals and labs worldwide evolve to suit today’s needs and tomorrow’s concerns:
- Diagnostic Solutions: Diagnostic tools help clinicians determine timely and appropriate treatment which help to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistant infections. As the largest in vitro diagnostics company committed to antimicrobial stewardship, we help maximize the use of diagnostic solutions to detect, identify, and treat today’s most urgent drug-resistant pathogens.
- Advanced Analytics: We support healthcare systems in their efforts to deliver evidence-based clinical care with our analytic platforms that help to optimize efficiency and increase collaborative communication.
- Services: Improve lab efficiency and accelerate the medical and economic value of stewardship.
- Educational Modules: Educate hospital stakeholders to ensure antimicrobial stewardship programs’ success.
Disclaimer: Product availability varies by country. Please consult your local bioMérieux representative for product availability in your country.
Our Antimicrobial Stewardship Offer
Put Diagnostics at the Heart of Antimicrobial Stewardship to Drive Informed Therapy Decisions
bioMérieux has the most comprehensive solutions on the market all along the patient pathway from antibiotic initiation to optimization and discontinuation. Comprehensive solutions exist today to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance and accelerate your stewardship program success. bioMérieux is dedicated to helping you as a healthcare professional access actionable results faster because time-to-diagnose and therapeutic efficacy are critical.
Metromap
AMS Solution
bioMérieux can support you with our solutions that confirm or rule out bacterial infection and identify the causative pathogen for informed patient management and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use.
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VIDAS® B•R•A•H•M•S PCT™
Important Biomarker for Improved Patient Management
Detects procalcitonin, a biomarker that aids in the risk assessment for progression to severe sepsis and septic shock. PCT also aids in decision making on antibiotic therapy for patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI).
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BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® Respiratory /Sore Throat Panels
Comprehensive Onsite PCR Results in ~15 Minutes.
The BIOFIRE Respiratory/Sore Throat (R/ST) Panels enable testing for both respiratory or sore throat pathogens on the same panel, providing a flexible respiratory solution to meet the unique needs of point-of-care settings.
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BIOFIRE® Blood Culture Identification 2 Panel
1 Test. 43 Targets. ~1 Hour.
The BIOFIRE BCID2 Panel tests for 43 targets associated with bloodstream infections, including Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and 10 antimicrobial resistance genes – all with one test and with results available in about an hour from positive blood culture.
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BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Gastrointestinal Panel
1 Test. 22 Targets. ~1 Hour.
This alternative method to traditional stool testing is fast, sensitive, and comprehensive with a panel menu that includes bacteria, viruses, and parasites, causing infectious gastroenteritis.
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BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel
1 Test. 14 Targets. ~1 Hour.
The BIOFIRE ME Panel provides answers on 14 of the most common bacterial, viral, and yeast pathogens that cause central nervous system infections to help healthcare providers rapidly distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis and optimize life-saving therapy.
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BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Pneumonia & Pneumonia plus Panels
1 Test. Up to 34 Targets. ~1 Hour.
Syndromic tests targeting a comprehensive menu of bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections, as well as 7 genetic markers of antibiotic resistance.
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BIOFIRE® Joint Infection Panel
1 Test. 39 Targets. ~1 Hour.
Using PCR technology, the BIOFIRE JI Panel is a rapid syndromic test that delivers comprehensive results in one easy-to-read report.
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PREVI® COLOR GRAM
A Market-Leading Automated Gram Stainer Offering Confidence in Results
Gram staining is a key step in your microbiology workflow, and PREVI® COLOR GRAM is the system to streamline it and provide timely staining results for impactful decisions.
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BIOFIRE® Respiratory 2.1 and 2.1plus Panels
1 Test. Up to 23 Targets. ~45 Minutes.
The BIOFIRE RP2.1 and RP2.1plus Panels use the syndromic approach to accurately detect and identify the pathogens most associated with respiratory infections. Fast and comprehensive results may enable better-informed diagnosis and treatment of patients.
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PREVI® COLOR GRAM
A Market-Leading Automated Gram Stainer Offering Confidence in Results
Gram staining is a key step in your microbiology workflow, and PREVI® COLOR GRAM is the system to streamline it and provide timely staining results for impactful decisions.
To optimize antibiotic therapy guidance and improve patient outcomes faster, our solutions help identify pathogens and determine their resistance profiles in order to select the most appropriate treatment.
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BACT/ALERT® VIRTUO®
Automated System for Faster Blood Culture
The first fully automated blood culture system, helping to refine and redesign laboratory workflow to maximize efficiency, while providing the fastest clinically impactful results on the market.1,2
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BACT/ALERT® 3D
Accurate Blood Culture Results
BACT/ALERT® 3D brings flexible and modular automated detection systems for any size laboratory that needs to meet blood culture guidelines efficiently, economically, and effectively.
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VITEK® MS PRIME
New-Generation Mass Spectrometry Microbial Identification System
VITEK® MS PRIME combines microbiology expertise with innovation taking mass spectrometry to the next level by maximizing the impact of daily laboratory workflow for better patient care.
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BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® TORCH
Easier testing. Faster results.
Syndromic infectious disease testing with BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® TORCH is the fastest way to better results.
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VITEK® 2
Fully integrated Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
VITEK® 2, the leading automated system for routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, provides efficient workflow, faster AST results. Its fully-integrated ID & AST approach ensures superior performance to rapidly and confidently guide therapy.
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VITEK® REVEAL™
Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) for Bloodstream Infections
The newest addition to our Sepsis Solution, VITEK® REVEAL™ offers rapid AST results to effectively and efficiently manage bloodstream infections.
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WASP®
Automated Microbiology Specimen Processing Instrument
Quality diagnostic results depend on high standard specimen processing. WASP® is the smart solution for truly comprehensive automation – taking you far beyond plating and streaking to address all aspects of microbiology specimen processing.
WASP® System is manufactured by COPAN Company. -
WASPLab®
Integrated Lab Optimization and Automation
The flexible automated specimen processing, incubation, and reading solution that adapts to your unique lab setup and workflow – and even grows with you over time.
WASPLab® System is manufactured by COPAN Company.
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BACT/ALERT® VIRTUO®
Automated System for Faster Blood Culture
The first fully automated blood culture system, helping to refine and redesign laboratory workflow to maximize efficiency, while providing the fastest clinically impactful results on the market.1,2
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BACT/ALERT® 3D
Accurate Blood Culture Results
BACT/ALERT® 3D brings flexible and modular automated detection systems for any size laboratory that needs to meet blood culture guidelines efficiently, economically, and effectively.
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BIOFIRE® Blood Culture Identification 2 Panel
1 Test. 43 Targets. ~1 Hour.
The BIOFIRE BCID2 Panel tests for 43 targets associated with bloodstream infections, including Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and 10 antimicrobial resistance genes – all with one test and with results available in about an hour from positive blood culture.
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VITEK® MS
Microbial Identification in Minutes
VITEK® MS is an automated mass spectrometry microbial identification system that uses Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) technology.
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VITEK® 2
Fully integrated Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
VITEK® 2, the leading automated system for routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, provides efficient workflow, faster AST results. Its fully-integrated ID & AST approach ensures superior performance to rapidly and confidently guide therapy.
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WASP®
Automated Microbiology Specimen Processing Instrument
Quality diagnostic results depend on high standard specimen processing. WASP® is the smart solution for truly comprehensive automation – taking you far beyond plating and streaking to address all aspects of microbiology specimen processing.
WASP® System is manufactured by COPAN Company. -
WASPLab®
Integrated Lab Optimization and Automation
The flexible automated specimen processing, incubation, and reading solution that adapts to your unique lab setup and workflow – and even grows with you over time.
WASPLab® System is manufactured by COPAN Company. -
VITEK® REVEAL™
Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) for Bloodstream Infections
The newest addition to our Sepsis Solution, VITEK® REVEAL™ offers rapid AST results to effectively and efficiently manage bloodstream infections.
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ETEST®
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Reagent Strips to Determine On-Scale MICs
Clinicians often need more information than what primary AST can provide. Recognized around the world for their proven performance, ETEST® ready to use reagent strips determine on-scale MICs.
To help answer when the patient can be safely discontinued from antibiotic treatment, our solutions help monitor the patient's response to personalized treatment and discontinue antibiotics as early as possible.
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BIOMÉRIEUX LAB CONSULTANCY
Microbiology Expertise and Consultancy to Optimize Lab Performance
Transforming laboratories together to control costs, maximize quality, shorten time to result, and empower staff.
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Connectivity and Data IT
Data-Driven Decision Making
Decision-making can be based on facts and figures that are easily available when needed, to measurably improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and cost of patient care.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence
AMS Centers of Excellence Partnerships
In 2021, bioMérieux established the Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence program to bring attention to the threat of antimicrobial resistance and to accelerate the impact that infectious diseases diagnostics have in facilitating antimicrobial stewardship and better patient care. bioMérieux has formalized partnerships with 12 hospitals globally, including sites in the United States, India, China, Malaysia, Morocco, France, Italy, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and Kenya. These sites are leaders in their countries and regions in regard to integrating diagnostics into antimicrobial stewardship. The partnerships will focus on generating and showcasing real-world medical and economic data and best practices about the value of combining diagnostics, medical education, lab consultancy services, and information technology solutions.
AMS Centers of Excellence News and Highlights
bioMérieux and the AMS Centers of Excellence have a shared vision for the future of managing antimicrobial resistance and improving antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. This designation signifies these hospitals and laboratories as partners of choice for bioMérieux to further define and demonstrate data-driven best practices, to improve interventions, and identify new diagnostic solutions in combatting antimicrobial resistance.
In North America, Tampa General Hospital and Henry Ford Health are two health systems that have received this Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation. Find out more as their team shares what this designation means to them.
Center of Excellence
Tampa General Hospital
Useful Resources on Antimicrobial Stewardship
Contact Us About Our Antimicrobial Stewardship Solutions
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References
1. How antibiotic resistance happens - centers for Disease Control. (n.d.). Available at https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/week/pdfs/How_Antibiotic_Resistance_Happens_508.pdf. Accessed on August 7, 2023.
2. The Lancet. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Available at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02724-0/. Accessed on Feb. 24, 2023.