New superbug detecting method developed by Korean researchers

The overuse of antibiotics has resulted in the worldwide problem of bacteria... that are resistant to medicine -- so-called superbugs.
To help medical professionals get on top of these dangerous infections, Korean researchers have come up with a new way to detect superbugs that would help save a lot of time in treating patients and stop the spread of these infections.
Cho Sung-min reports.

A group of researchers at Korea Basic Science Institute developed a new method to detect antibiotic resistant bacteria, also known as "superbugs" within 30 minutes.
The recent development is considered as a huge leap forward in the biotech sector…as properly detecting superbugs currently takes at least a week.

Superbugs occur when bacteria become resistant to several types of antibiotics.
Without timely treatment, superbugs can lead to dangerous conditions, such as pressure sore, urinary tract infection, and pneumonia. According to data, more than 5-thousand cases of infections in Korea were caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the second half of 2017.

The team that conceived the method says the new detecting technology omits the entire procedure of bacterial cultivation, thus saving a considerable amount of time.
The head researcher of the team saysstudying the proteins on the superbugs was key to the development of the technology.

"We came up with the technology after synthesizing antibodies to the antigenic proteins found in superbugs."

Currently, the research team has teamed up with a health-tech company to commercialize the technology into a portable bacteria-detecting device that could be distributed in the market.

The firm that is working on commercializing the kit says the finished product is expected to have a massive impact on preventing the spread of bacterial outbreaks and infections.
Cho Sung-min arirang news.