Challenges in identifying antibiotic resistance targets for point-of-care diagnostics in general practice

Mitsakakis, Konstantinos; Kaman, Wendy E; Elshout, Gijs; Specht, Mara; Hays, John P

The development of a rapid phenotypic detection test would act as a 'catch-all' technique, providing a simple answer to the question of antibiotic resistance for many antibiotic resistance mechanisms (mobile genetic elements, mutations, efflux, porins, etc.). Note that this may not be true for 'metabolically inactive, but antibiotic resistant' microorganisms Will antibiotic resistance diagnostics actually alter GP/patient behavior? The factors influencing the prescribing of antibiotics, e.g., time-to-result, costs, added value, etc., by GPs need to be better understood and factored into POC diagnostic development GP: General practitioner; POC: Point-of-care.