Mast highlights measures to combat antibiotic resistance

Mast has highlighted the positive contributions its range of products can make to global efforts to combat the growing problem of drug resistance.

The company has responded to the recent World Health Organization (WHO) call to action against multi-drug resistant bacteria by underlining the potential benefits of its portfolio of extended spectrum beta-lactamase detection discs.

This product offering, which encompasses its new AmpC Detection Set, makes it easier and more cost-effective for scientists to differentiate between resistance enzymes, simply by comparing corresponding zone sites.

Mast states that this is becoming a crucial concern, due to the issue of false cephalosporin susceptibility associated with AmpC beta-lactamases and the role this plays in the effective use of carbapenem antibiotics.

A statement from the firm added: "Widespread antibiotic resistance represents one of the greatest threats and challenges to healthcare on a global scale."

The WHO sought to raise awareness of this problem as part of World Health Day last week, cautioning that the issue could render the cures to many common infections useless in future.