title: A new device for the prompt diagnosis of urinary tract infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infectious diseases. RESULTS obtained from conventional microbiological analysis of urine and antibiotic susceptibility testing are available only after a few days, delaying precise diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Micro Biological Survey (MBS) srl (a spin-off of Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy) has developed and patented an automated colorimetric test for rapid bacterial counting. In a preliminary validation study it was demonstrated that the results obtained with the MBS method are equivalent to the results obtained with conventional culture-based microbiological analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, sterile urine samples were artificially contaminated with bacterial species that are most frequently responsible for UTIs. The MBS method was used to evaluate the presence of bacteria and their sensitivity to some of the most commonly used antibiotics in UTIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MBS method was able to detect in a few hours the presence or absence of bacteria at clinically significant concentrations (>105 CFU/mL), and to provide their susceptibility pattern to a limited panel of antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained demonstrate that the MBS point-of-care testing (POCT) device could be developed into a valuable aid for the management of UTIs, possibly addressing more precise diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
authors.forename: Alyexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arienzo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Losito
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Priolisi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Visca
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013997:Time Factors; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents