Microarray for rapid detection of microbial resistance genotypes

Antibiotic resistance in microbial pathogens causing hospital infections is a growing concern worldwide. The rapid spread of resistance genes can lead to the emergence of multiple drug resistant strains that in some cases are not treatable with any clinically available antibiotics. In this paper we present a new technology, the Antimicrobial Resistance Determinant Microarray (ARDM) that permits the rapid and simultaneous identification of a broadrange of antibiotic resistance genes from environmental or clinical samples. The ARDM is based on the CustomArray ElectraSense platform and is capable of detecting ~300 resistance determinants in 24 hours using a single high-density microarray. The validation results of the ARDM presented here show that this assay may be a useful tool for clinicians for the selection of appropriate antibiotic therapies before resistance phenotype information is available.