New Diagnostic Method Detects Pneumonia at POC in Low-Resource Settings

Pneumonia continues to be one of the leading causes of death in low- and middle-income countries, where limited access to advanced laboratory infrastructure hampers early and accurate diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization, acute lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia place a major burden on healthcare systems across these regions. Now, scientists have developed a fast, reliable, and low-cost diagnostic method for detecting pneumonia, specifically for use in resource-limited environments.

Researchers from Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) developed a simplified loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae—the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia. Unlike conventional PCR testing, which requires costly thermal cyclers and laboratory conditions, the optimized LAMP method operates under constant temperature and produces accurate results in a short turnaround time.

When validated with clinical swab samples, the test demonstrated comparable performance to PCR-based detection, proving its suitability for point-of-care use. To further enhance accessibility, the researchers also designed a low-cost, portable diagnostic device compatible with the LAMP assay. This innovation, presented in ACS Omega, can enable healthcare workers to differentiate bacterial from viral pneumonia at the bedside, improving antibiotic stewardship and helping prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Related Links:
Radboud University Medical Center
Charles University