Antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge for public health, complicating the treatment of bacterial infections and resulting in millions of fatalities annually. To address this, researchers from EPFL and Vrije Universiteit Brussel have developed a novel, rapid method for antibiotic susceptibility testing called Optical Nanomotion Detection (ONMD). This technique leverages optical microscopy to assess the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics quickly and cost-effectively, providing results in just 2-4 hours—much faster than traditional methods that can take 24 hours or more.
Using standard optical microscopes and basic technology like cameras or mobile phones, ONMD detects the nanomotion, or microscopic vibrations, of bacterial cells, which serve as indicators of life. Previous testing methods are often complex and require expensive equipment, but ONMD allows for single-cell precision without the need for labeling bacteria.
The research demonstrated ONMD’s effectiveness by determining the antibiotic sensitivity of various bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize antibiotic sensitivity testing in clinical settings, offering significant implications for more effective bacterial infection management worldwide.
