A Russian innovation for quickly and accurately selecting antibiotics for children
In a promising scientific breakthrough that could transform pediatric healthcare, a team of scientists at Voronezh State University of Engineering and Technology in Russia, in close collaboration with leading pediatricians, has developed a new, patented method for the rapid and accurate analysis of biological samples taken from children's wounds. This innovation comes at a time when the world is facing increasing challenges related to antibiotic resistance, making the accuracy and speed of antibiotic selection crucial factors in treatment.
Piezoelectric sensing technology
The Russian university's press office explained the details of this advanced technology, noting that it relies primarily on identifying the type of microorganisms and precisely measuring their concentration in biological samples. This process is carried out using an innovative, portable electronic diagnostic device equipped with five highly sensitive piezoelectric sensors. These sensors act as an electronic nose, recording vital signs at very short intervals (one second). The total area below the output curves of all the sensors is then recorded by specialized software, paving the way for an immediate assessment of the patient's condition.
Medical context and global challenges
This technology is of paramount importance in the broader medical context. Traditional methods for culturing bacteria and identifying the appropriate antibiotic can take 48 to 72 hours, a critical period during which infections can worsen, especially in children with still-developing immune systems. The ability to determine the right treatment within hours, rather than days, represents a significant leap forward, reducing reliance on empirical therapy, which can sometimes lead to the use of ineffective antibiotics or those with undesirable side effects.
Non-invasive monitoring and immediate results
In this context, pediatric surgeon and co-author of the patent, Dmitry Shushunov, emphasized the clinical importance of obtaining biological analysis results as quickly as possible. He stressed that the benefit extends beyond simply adjusting the treatment protocol immediately; it also includes monitoring the development of bacterial colonization of the wound and tracking the inflammatory process during various stages of healing. Shushunov added that measurement using this innovative device allows for non-invasive monitoring of the patient during treatment, enabling physicians to quickly assess the effectiveness of the medication without causing the child any additional discomfort.
Reducing drug toxicity and protecting children
For her part, the project leader and professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tatyana Kuchmenko, explained that the first phase of the research focused on demonstrating the feasibility of accelerating the acquisition of microbial information. Work is currently underway to develop the software for this model so that it can automatically identify samples immediately upon measurement, without the need for complex manual calculations, which will further expedite the analysis process in the near future.
Kochmenko highlighted a crucial point regarding the safety of young patients: reducing the time to obtain results to just a few hours significantly decreases the amount of antibiotics required and the duration of their use. This, in turn, reduces the toxic effects of the drugs on the child's body and protects the liver and kidney functions that are more sensitive in children than in adults—a paramount goal in modern pediatrics.
