Rapid Result Test for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections Proves Superior to Standard Urine Culture

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 18 May 2022

Image: Guidance UTI provides personalized results in less than one day from receipt at lab (Photo courtesy of Pathnostics)

Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) are a significant burden on individual health and healthcare resources that must be diagnosed and treated early and accurately to reduce the risk of poor outcomes. Now, an advanced rapid result test better addresses polymicrobial infections in difficult cases, where bacterial interactions can impact antibiotic resistance.

Pathnostics’ (Irvine, CA, USA) Guidance UTI testing combines PCR and Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (P-AST™) for precision diagnostic testing with rapid results for the management of complicated, recurrent or persistent UTIs and elevated risk patients. Guidance UTI provides personalized results in less than one day from receipt at lab, while culture can take 3-5 days, reducing the need for empiric therapy and supporting antibiotic stewardship initiatives. Results are summarized in an easy- to-read report showing therapy options based on the patient’s individual infection.

Real world evidence has shown that Guidance UTI testing is associated with reductions in critical adverse outcomes, healthcare resource utilization and cost for cUTI compared to standard urine culture (SUC). A comparative analysis designed to examine outcomes of one year of cUTI treatment guided by either Guidance UTI or SUC found 44% lower total costs and 77% lower clinically-advanced costs with Guidance UTI versus SUC. The analysis also found that cUTIs in the Guidance UTI cohort were likelier to be managed successfully as outpatients.

"We conducted this analysis because evidence-based testing is of critical importance to diagnostic laboratories in order to improve the quality of patient care and ensure better use of healthcare resources," said Mohit Mathur, SVP of Medical Affairs at Pathnostics. "Our commitment to providing real-world evidence is a key part of our vision to create a new standard of care in UTI testing and our overall mission to pioneer a better future by providing innovative solutions to address diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. The findings reinforce the real-world benefits of Guidance UTI's increased sensitivity, reduced time to results, and P-AST results to patients, providers, and the healthcare system."

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