Hospital La Candelaria develops rapid test for antibiotic resistance

Microbiologists at the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tenerife have developed a rapid diagnostic test capable of detecting dangerous multidrug-resistant bacteria in just a few hours. Based on the same PCR technology used for COVID-19, the system analyzes genetic material to identify specific bacterial variants, including those that resist “last resort” antibiotics.

Previously, laboratory identification could take several days, delaying appropriate medication and necessary isolation protocols. This new method significantly simplifies the process compared to traditional sequencing. According to the hospital, the test demonstrated 100% accuracy after being successfully evaluated on 60 real patient samples, successfully differentiating between variants without generating false positives. The findings were published in the scientific journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection.