Context:
A rapid diagnostic test for Urinary Tract Infection could help combat the superbug crisis (antimicrobial resistance). The device won the Longitude Prize recently. The PA-100 AST System from Sysmex Astrego is a high-tech, transformative, rapid, point-of-care test for UTIs (Urinary Tract Infection).
Longitude Prize
- In 1714, the British government introduced the Longitude Prize to solve the literal problem of determining longitude.
- In the 18th century, countless ships were lost at sea because sailors couldn’t ascertain their exact position. While latitude could be easily measured using celestial observations, longitude remained elusive.
- John Harrison, a watchmaker, won the prize by inventing a device that could precisely determine longitude.
- Three hundred years later, Britain launched a second Longitude Prize.
- The public was invited to vote on a major challenge needing immediate resolution, such as global warming, food shortages, or water scarcity.
- The public chose Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). In 2014, a ten million pound Longitude Prize was announced.
- The Longitude Prize is an inducement prize contest offered by Challenge Works, a social enterprise that was historically part of Nesta, a British charity funded by the lottery.
The Longitude Prize on AMR challenged teams of innovators worldwide to develop an affordable, accurate, rapid, and easy-to-use test for bacterial infections. This would enable health professionals to prescribe the correct antibiotic at the right time.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
- Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, are medications used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals, and plants.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to these medicines. Consequently, antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments become ineffective, making infections harder or impossible to treat, and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability, and death.
- AMR is a natural process that occurs over time through genetic changes in pathogens. However, its emergence and spread are accelerated by human activities, particularly the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in treating, preventing, or controlling infections in humans, animals, and plants.
- Impacts of AMR
- In 2019, antibiotic-resistant infections directly caused 1.3 million deaths worldwide and contributed to a total of 5 million deaths.
- By 2050, it is predicted that these infections will cause 10 million deaths annually.
- The World Bank estimates that antibiotic resistance could lead to an additional $1 trillion in health costs by 2050 and up to $3.4 trillion in lost GDP by 2030.
Previous year question
Consider the following statements:
1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues.
2. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.
3. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (2022)
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
