We all know that antimicrobial resistance is continually on the rise. We also know we have to be vigilant to help limit the emergence of new resistance and preserve the effectiveness of current therapeutic options for challenging situations. Critically ill patients are counting on it.

But what counter-offensives do we have for this battle? Antimicrobial stewardship teaches us that we have two key strategies to fight back and help sustain antibiotic efficacy now and for the future:

  1. Optimize the appropriate use of antibiotics
    • Use only when indicated
    • Adapt prescription and treatment
  2. Prevent, detect and control MDRO* and HAI**

Diagnostics is critical to both steps, and the ETEST® range can be an important arrow in the quiver of a microbiology lab. After all, ETEST® strips are a classic, simple solution to reliably determine on-scale MIC*** to support appropriate antibiotic prescription in the most critical cases.

But what about the evolution of resistance? When the bugs evolve as fast as they do, you need MIC values more than ever. That’s why bioMérieux teams are committed to keeping the ETEST® range up-to-date with evolving microbiology needs with new ETEST® strips and redesigning current tests to keep pace. Recently, for example, we’ve added ETEST® CEFTOLOZANE TAZOBACTAM and ETEST® CEFTAZIDIME AVIBACTAM.

And now, there’s the redesigned ETEST® PIPERACILLIN TAZOBACTAM to determine the MIC of Piperacillin Tazobactam for Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.

Calibrated against the BMD technique, this strip offers a practical, accurate solution to support efficient prescription of Piperacillin Tazobactam – a much depended on antibiotic worldwide for seriously ill patients.

(And more new ETEST® s are in the pipeline too – expect to see ETEST® TELAVANCIN next!)

Determining accurate MICs is an important step to detecting even emerging strains of resistance. Microbiology diagnostics labs need advanced solutions to best leverage their expertise in the fight against resistance. ETEST®, in conjunction with bioMérieux’s automated VITEK® 2 solution, covers both your routine and clinically challenging situations.

Learn more on ETEST® PIPERACILLIN TAZOBACTAM 

 

*MDRO: Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms
**HAI: Healthcare-Associated Infections
***MIC: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration