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New medical test approved to help fight hospital-related infection

Category: Infectious Diseases

The diagnostics company Cepheid announced on Wednesday that they have received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market a test that detects a gene associated with resistance to a powerful and often-used antibiotic.

The California-based company can now sell Xpert vanA, a test for an antimicrobial resistance gene called vanA that is linked to one of the most severe healthcare-related infections.

"Many patients in the areas of oncology, hematology, nephrology, transplant and abdominal surgery units are at highest risk for contracting [the infection]," said Dr David Persing, chief medical and technology office at Cepheid, according to the Business Journal.

"Therefore, it's imperative to prevent potential outbreaks by testing for vanA upon admission of high risk patients," he added.

Officials at Cepheid have stated that that U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the infection can lengthen hospital stays for patients, increase mortality rates and adversely affect healthcare workers, according to Top News.

There are many diagnostic tests on the market that can help identify infections and various preventable diseases.