Rapid UTI test that cuts detection time to 45 minutes awarded Longitude prize | The £8m award goes to system that could herald ‘sea change’ in antibiotic use by identifying correct treatment for urinary tract infections within 45 minutes

TLDR:

The test could herald a “sea change” in antibiotic use, the judges said as they announced the winner of the Longitude prize on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

AMR, where the drugs used to treat infections no longer work, is a growing concern. It leads to the deaths of nearly 1.3 million people worldwide annually and is predicted to cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050.

Between 50% and 60% of women will experience at least one urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetime, and up to half of the bacteria that cause the infections are resistant to at least one antibiotic. The infections can cause potentially fatal sepsis.