Data Science Ethics

Detection of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

UC Berkeley researchers have developed a test that detects the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in minutes and requires no complicated equipment for detection. The test, dubbed DETECT, detects antibiotic-resistant bacteria for urinary tract infections. The test spots the molecular products of the breakdown of the antibiotic and turns an easily detectable shade of yellow when these markers are present. This test has the ability to eliminate the superfluous use of alternative antibiotics as doctors can quickly determine if the Urinary Tract Infection can be treated with a lower-generation antibiotic. Eliminating the unnecessary use of alternative antibiotics will help slow the development of even more antibiotic-resistant bacteria.