High-sensitivity, low-cost point of care testing for infection to combat antimicrobial resistance by reducing over-prescription of antibiotics

抗菌素耐药(AMR)，是一种医疗紧急情况。据估计，它在英国造成12,000人死亡，在全球造成70万人死亡，据世卫组织预测，到2050年，全球每年将有1,000万人死于降钙素，其经济影响与2008-2009年的全球金融危机相同。在必须用抗生素治疗严重感染的地方，抗生素耐药性的增长因过度开抗生素而加速。在NHS每年开出的2000多万张抗生素处方中，估计至少有20%是不必要的抗生素处方，主要是在初级保健领域。与许多其他指示全身炎症的生物标志物相比，降钙素原是诊断感染的最佳选择。它具有高度的特异性，只要检测提供足够的敏感性，就可以在感染的整个生命周期内被检测到。要将PCT的可靠检测用作抗生素处方的辅助手段，它必须高度敏感，必须快速、低成本才能广泛使用。虽然存在用于PCT的POC设备，但它们缺乏足够的灵敏度来可靠地使用，并且单个测试成本较高，阻碍了广泛使用。Osler试图通过真正的高灵敏度、低成本的PCT测试盒来克服这些挑战。这将使用奥斯勒的高灵敏度电化学分析技术，再加上真正的低成本制造方法，包括用于血糖和侧向流动设备的方法。

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is a healthcare emergency. It is estimated to cause 12,000 deaths in the UK and 700,000 globally, and is forecast by the WHO to cause 10 million annual deaths globally by 2050, with the same economic impact as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.Whereas antibiotics must be prescribed to treats serious infections, the growth in antibiotic resistance is accelerated by over-prescription of antibiotics, where antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed, which is estimated to be at least 20% of more than 20 million NHS antibiotic prescriptions made each year, predominantly in primary care.Procalcitonin, 'PCT', is the optimal choice for diagnosing infections, compared to many other biomarkers which indicate general inflammation. It is highly specific and is detectable throughout the lifetime of an infection, provided testing provides sufficient sensitivity.For reliable testing of PCT to be utilised as an aid to prescribe antibiotics it must be highly-sensitive it must be rapid low-cost to be widely used. While POC devices exist for PCT, they lack sufficient sensitivity to be reliably used and have high individual test cost preventing widespread use.Osler seek to overcome these challenges with a true high-sensitivity, low-cost PCT test cartridge. This will be enabled using Osler's high-sensitivity electrochemical assay technology, coupled with genuine low-cost manufacturing methods, including from those used in blood glucose and lateral flow devices.