First, we spotlight CombiANT, a diagnostic tool tailored to assess the efficacy of antibiotic combinations. While combination therapies can extend treatment coverage and curb resistance, their outcomes are often unpredictable. CombiANT quantifies interactions – synergy, additivity, and antagonism – to illuminate how antibiotic pairings impact treatment effectiveness. Our in vitro studies across diverse pathogens emphasize the critical role of precise interaction testing, and we explore the broader clinical implications of these findings.

Next, we address the challenge of heteroresistance (HR) – a stealthy phenotype where resistant bacterial subpopulations lurk undetected within clonal populations. Through a retrospective cohort study of E. coli bloodstream infections, we unpack the clinical relevance of HR and unveil Break Point Heteroresistance (BCHR) – a novel diagnostic threshold aimed at reducing error rates and enhancing detection accuracy. We also introduce the Rapid Identification of Outliers Test (RIOT), an innovative method designed to improve HR detection and pave the way for a new clinical diagnostic standard.

Together, these advanced diagnostics represent a leap forward in identifying and managing bacterial resistance. By enhancing detection and refining antibiotic strategies, they open new avenues for more effective, personalized treatments in clinical practice. Join us to explore how these tools can redefine the future of infectious disease management.

Bio: Nikos Fatsis-Kavalopoulos is currently CEO and Chief Scientist at Rx Dynamics AB, Uppsala company in the biotech sector, also a researcher at the Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University, working on clinical microbiology. He holds an M.Eng degree from the School of Mechanical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and earned a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University. His professional journey began as a Research Engineer (2013-2015) at the Systems Bioengineering Lab, NTUA, where they focused on the intersection of mechanical engineering and biological systems. From 2015 to 2019, he pursued an industrial PhD in collaboration with Gradientech AB and Uppsala University, specializing in method and diagnostic tool development for biomedical applications. Since 2020, he served as a a researcher at the Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University. His research focuses on antibiotic interactions and bacterial heteroresistance, especially on developing next-generation clinical diagnostics. In 2022, He took on the role of CEO and Chief Scientist at Rx Dynamics AB. Throughout his career, he has developed expertise in biomedical research, diagnostics development, with a strong emphasis on industrial-academic collaboration.

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