T2 Biosystems, a provider in the rapid detection of sepsis-causing pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, is working to expand the number of pathogens detected on the FDA-cleared T2Bacteria Panel to include the detection of Acinetobacter baumannii.

A. baumannii is a cause of bloodstream infections especially in critically ill patients, which can range from a benign transient bacteremia to fulminant septic shock. A. baumannii infections typically occur in people in healthcare settings and pose risk to those who are on ventilators; have devices such as catheters; have open wounds from surgery; are in intensive care units; or have prolonged hospital stays. In a large study of nosocomial bloodstream infections, A. baumannii was the tenth most common pathogen and has a crude ICU mortality rate of 34.0% to 43.4%.

“We are excited about the potential to expand the number of pathogens detected by our FDA-cleared T2Bacteria Panel. In the U.S., Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings and can disproportionally impact those with weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease, or diabetes,” says John Sperzel, Chairman and CEO of T2 Biosystems. “Acinetobacter can be resistant to many antibiotics, including carbapenems, which highlights the importance of rapid detection and targeted antimicrobial treatment.”

The T2Bacteria Panel is an FDA-cleared product able to detect sepsis-causing pathogens directly in whole blood, in three to five hours, without the need to wait days for a positive blood culture. The FDA-cleared T2Bacteria Panel currently detects E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, and the CE marked version detects the aforementioned pathogens plus A. baumannii.

Featured image: T2Bacteria Panel. Photo: T2 Biosystems