Bruker's NGS Reflex Testing: Revolutionizing Hospital Hygiene and HAI Tracing

In the ever-evolving landscape of hospital hygiene and healthcare-associated infection (HAI) tracing, Bruker Corporation is making waves with its innovative combination of the IR Biotyper® and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) reflex testing. This dual approach promises to revolutionize the way healthcare institutions manage and prevent outbreaks, offering a blend of speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness that traditional methods struggle to match.



The IR Biotyper®, Bruker's infrared spectroscopy solution, has long been hailed for its ability to provide rapid, cost-effective, and strain-specific detection of microorganisms. With a turnaround time of just 3 hours from culture transfer to result for 30 samples in one run, the IR Biotyper® is an ideal first-line solution for hospital outbreaks and industrial hygiene control. Its Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) technology offers a highly specific fingerprint, allowing for discrimination at the strain level—a crucial capability in the fight against multi-resistant organisms and suspicious resistance patterns.

However, the true power of Bruker's solution lies in its integration with NGS reflex testing. By combining the rapid screening capabilities of the IR Biotyper® with the in-depth genomic analysis provided by NGS, healthcare institutions can achieve a level of accuracy and efficiency that was previously unattainable. This two-stage approach allows for timely decisions when time matters, while also providing detailed genomic insights for a more comprehensive understanding of the infection.

The potential cost savings and operational benefits for healthcare institutions that adopt Bruker's combined solution are substantial. The rapid speed of analysis provided by the IR Biotyper® allows for timely decisions, which can prevent prolonged hospital stays and limit the economic burden on healthcare systems. Additionally, the selective use of NGS testing for in-depth analysis only on selected samples can significantly reduce the overall cost of NGS testing, as NGS is a more expensive and time-consuming process.

Moreover, the IR Biotyper® can be used for proactive monitoring and microbial quality control, helping to prevent outbreaks before they occur. This proactive approach can further reduce costs associated with outbreak management and control, making Bruker's solution a compelling option for healthcare institutions looking to enhance their infection control strategies.

In conclusion, Bruker's combination of the IR Biotyper® and NGS reflex testing represents a significant advancement in hospital hygiene and HAI tracing. By offering a unique triage offering for epidemiology and healthcare acquired infection tracing, this innovative solution promises to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of infection control strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the economic burden on healthcare systems. As healthcare institutions continue to grapple with the challenges of multi-resistant organisms and suspicious resistance patterns, Bruker's solution offers a beacon of hope in the fight against hospital-acquired infections.