BD launches diagnostic instrument for rapid identification of bacteria and detection of antimicrobial resistance

New Delhi : BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company, announced the launch of its next generation diagnostic instrument for the rapid identification of bacteria and detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The new BD Phoenix M50 ID/AST system helps deliver the same rapid, accurate and cost-effective testing as the legacy BD Phoenix 100, within a smaller footprint. The system is highly reliable and requires no preventative maintenance, thanks to innovative materials and engineering techniques employed during its development, according to a statement by BD.

A March 2016 paper on ‘Antibiotic Resistance in India: Drivers and Opportunities for Action’ in PLOS Medicine makes a convincing case for action against resistance: “Antibiotic resistance is a global public health threat, but nowhere is it as stark as in India. The crude infectious disease mortality rate in India today is 416.75 per 100,000 persons twice the rate in the US (200) when antibiotics were introduced.”

Antibiotic use is a major driver of resistance. In 2010, India was the world’s largest consumer of antibiotics for human health at 12.9 x 109 units (10.7 units per person).

Pointing out the poor clinician awareness of the rationality and dosing of fixed-dose combinations, experts suggest incorporating the principles of antimicrobial stewardship and appropriate use into undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in the country, strengthening diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance and appropriate diagnostic tools for rapid identification of pathogens for AMR surveillance.

“The health care community is facing unprecedented challenges with the spread of multidrug resistant organisms, and today’s clinical microbiology laboratories are under increasing pressure to provide fast and accurate bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (ID/AST) results to influence clinical decision and outcomes. The BD Phoenix M50 system is an attractive solution for microbiology laboratories in India and intensifies our support to the fight against antimicrobial resistance,” said Noel Wentworth, Business Director of Diagnostics Systems for BD in Central and South Asia.

Neeraj Raghuvanshi, Business Director of Diagnostics Systems for BD in India, added, “Over-the-counter access to antibiotics is a problem. Improvements in clinical and laboratory practices, combined with effective deployment and use of medical technology, can help to ensure antimicrobials are utilized appropriately, reducing risk to patients and lowering costs associated with resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a threat that can be solved with a collective effort and with the launch of our technology we want to play an active role in this public health challenge.”

According to the company, the new BD Phoenix M50 system benefits from the demonstrated performance of the legacy BD Phoenix 100 system for detecting current and emerging resistances as well as the extended testing capabilities provided by BD Phoenix Emerge AST panel with 136 wells.

The BD Phoenix M50 system also offers integration with multiple other analysers, including the BD BACTEC and BD Bruker MALDI Biotyper systems, through BD EpiCenter middleware connectivity that enables data traceability and security, paperless workflow and flexible communication capabilities to deliver the efficiencies expected by laboratories of all sizes.

The new system joins the overall BD diagnostics portfolio to help drive the transformation of microbiology.