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Infectious diseases remain among the most frequent causes of death worldwide. For septic and critically ill patients, every minute counts: only rapid and reliable diagnostics allow physicians to initiate the right treatment and improve survival chances. However, conventional resistance testing often takes several days, delaying the start of targeted therapy.

The InfectoXPlore project addresses this critical challenge by developing a spectroscopic diagnostic platform for rapid phenotypic antibiotic resistance testing. The goal is to establish a cost-effective and reliable system that can determine microbial resistance patterns within just a few hours—bridging the gap between fast pathogen identification and slow phenotypic confirmation.

While existing diagnostic systems such as MALDI-TOF or PCR can identify pathogens rapidly, they provide limited insight into antibiotic susceptibility. InfectoXPlore therefore focuses on optical and mechanical innovations that directly assess bacterial behavior under antibiotic exposure, enabling functional resistance profiling without the need for lengthy cultivation.

The researchers have developed an optimized experimental platform combining automated fluidics with precise spectroscopic readout. A key component is a novel syringe filter module, which autonomously controls four linear motors for exact dosing and sample handling. This system separates bacteria from blood samples through a coordinated process involving flap-anchor valves and syringe pump modules. After a pre-flush, the blood is filtered and rinsed with buffer solution, trapping bacteria within the filter matrix. The retained microorganisms are then released into a collection vial for spectroscopic analysis, followed by ethanol-based cleaning for sterility and reusability.

Through the integration of optical spectroscopy, automated microfluidics, and smart system control, InfectoXPlore lays the groundwork for next-generation antimicrobial resistance testing; fast, reproducible, and suitable for clinical routine.