Danny O’Hare

Oct 21, 2024 | nature.com | Jennifer Lawrence |Danny O’Hare |Joseph van Batenburg-Sherwood |Alison Holmes |Timothy M Rawson |Mark Sutton

Beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae present a significant therapeutic challenge. Current developments in phenotypic diagnostics focus primarily on rapid minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. There is a requirement for rapid phenotypic diagnostics to improve antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) and aid prescribing decisions. Phenotypic AST are limited in their ability to characterise beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in detail. Despite advances in rapid AST, gaps and opportunities remain for developing additional diagnostic approaches that facilitate personalised antimicrobial prescribing. In this perspective, we highlight the state-of-the-art in beta-lactamase detection, identify gaps in current practice, and discuss barriers for innovation within this field. In this work, authors aim to address the critical challenges in diagnosing and managing beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, which are pivotal in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).