A new direct-from-urine test could help doctors choose the right antibiotic for UTIs on the same day, potentially improving patient outcomes while reducing delays that can fuel resistance and serious complications.
Patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) could receive the right antibiotic far sooner, thanks to a new test that produces results within hours rather than days.
Researchers at the University of Reading, working with colleagues at the University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have shown that a novel method testing directly from urine can tell doctors which antibiotic will work in an average of 5.85 hours. Standard laboratory testing currently takes two to three days.
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR),…