Antibacterial Testing

Antibacterial Testing

The primary focus of our antibacterial testing initiative is on public health and biodefense. Comprehensive antibacterial testing capabilities are offered for a broad range of clinically important antimicrobial-resistant and -susceptible pathogens as well as Category A and B biothreat agents. Our facility has several dedicated BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories with cutting-edge services available for discovery and development projects, and we have extensive experience working with both government and commercial clients.

Repository of diverse clinical isolates. Southern Research maintains an extensive and diverse repository of wild-type and clinical isolates available for evaluating promising new leads including but not limited to:

• CA-MRSA 300 and 400
• Clostridium difficile
• Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Acinetobacter baumannii
• Bacillus anthracis
• Francisella tularensis
• Yersinia pestis
• Burkholderia mallei
• Burkholderia pseudomallei
• Brucella abortus
• Brucella suis
• Brucella melitensis

Antimicrobial Resistance - Public Health Threats Posed by Nosocomial and Community-Acquired Pathogens

In recent years, the problem of antimicrobial resistance has become an increasingly important public health issue in the United States. While a lack of national surveillance makes the extent of the problem difficult to quantify, it is well-documented that resistance is on the rise. Bacterial infections that were once treatable are now becoming increasingly difficult to control, and many of the drug-resistant bacteria thought to be restricted primarily to healthcare settings (nosocomial-acquired) have spread into communities (community-acquired).

For example, the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is growing at an alarming rate in the U.S. in both healthcare and community settings. It is estimated that 46 out of 1,000 hospital and nursing home patients are infected with the pathogen. In addition, 15% of all reported cases in the U.S. are community-acquired and affect individuals who have not been in a clinical setting. Many of these community-acquired (CA) strains, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) USA 300 and USA 400, are demonstrating unique virulence traits and resistance profiles. In recent years, several high schools across the country have closed temporarily due the presence of MRSA, and numerous deaths in children have been attributed to the pathogen.

In addition to MRSA, pathogens such as C. difficile and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are demonstrating increased antimicrobial resistance and raising concern among public health officials. Several states across the nation have reported increased rates of C. difficile infection (CDI) in recent years, noting more severe disease with an associated increase in mortality. While CDI remains primarily associated with elderly individuals in healthcare settings, an increasing number of traditionally low-risk, healthy individuals in community settings have also been affected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2004 emergence of a new epidemic strain of C. difficile-associated disease caused hospital outbreaks in several states; this newer, epidemic strain appears to be more virulent and antimicrobial resistant. Moreover, the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) threatens the success of global TB control initiatives. This strain of TB, which is resistant to two of the most effective anti-TB medications, can occur when medications are misused by patients or mismanaged by healthcare providers.

Our capabilities include:

• In vitro Testing
• Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing
• Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) testing
• Time-kill analysis
• Synergy (drug combination) studies
• Intracellular (macrophage) drug activity studies
• Opsonophagocytic activity
• In vivo Models
• Sepsis/peritonitis
• Surgical wound
• Pneumonia
• Nasal colonization
• Synergy
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis (acute and latent)
• Anaerobe (Clostridium difficile)
• Enteropathogenic