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AMR Zunitan
Cepheid

Cepheid

Editorial Team

5m Read/Watch

August 06, 2026

TECH AND DISEASE TRENDS

Article

Precision in Action: Rapid Diagnostics in Real World Care

Precision in Action: Rapid Diagnostics in Real‑World Care
At ESCMID Global 2026, a presentation from Cepheid and Beckman Coulter demonstrated how rapid diagnostics directly influence patient outcomes. Through an in-depth review of a clinical case, Dr. Mike Loeffelholz (Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Cepheid) and Dr. Stephanie Mitchell (Senior Director, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Beckman Coulter) showed how timely, accurate laboratory data can guide infection control and treatment decisions when managing multidrug‑resistant organisms (MDROs). The case reinforced a clear message: faster insights enable better care.

Why does it matter?
MDROs remain a critical threat to patient safety, especially among elderly and high‑risk populations. Delays in identifying colonization or infection can lead to inappropriate treatment, increased transmission, and worse outcomes. In this case, early admission screening identified colonization by an NDM-producing organism, allowing immediate isolation precautions. When the patient later deteriorated post‑surgery, clinicians were already armed with resistance information, saving valuable time when her condition became critical. Rapid diagnostics helped shift care from reactive to proactive, improving both patient management and infection prevention efforts.

What are the most important take‑aways?
Early screening matters. Identifying MDRO colonization at admission supports faster infection control decisions and prepares care teams for future clinical changes.

Speed drives confidence. Rapid molecular testing can deliver actionable resistance data in under an hour, far sooner than traditional culture methods.

Integrated diagnostics can improve therapy decisions. Combining organism identification, susceptibility testing, and molecular resistance detection enabled clinicians to quickly tailor therapy, discontinue unnecessary antibiotics, and successfully treat a severe NDM‑associated infection. The patient completed treatment and recovered—an outcome closely tied to diagnostic precision.

Want to learn more?
Want a deeper dive into the case study? Watch the expert-led presentation below for comprehensive insights.

The content presented on this page is intended for informational and educational purposes. While it is available globally, it may reflect clinical practices or healthcare system considerations specific to a particular region.

Reference:

1. Mitchell, S. L., & Loeffelholz, M. J. (2026). Precision in action: Danaher’s role in improving infection management and patient outcomes [Conference presentation]. European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global 2026), Munich, Germany.

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