KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- In a ground-breaking development, scientists at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) have identified a new species of bacteria, referred to as "Stenotrophomonas Riyadhensis" through the application of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology.
According to KFSH&RC in a statement, this discovery signifies a major advancement in understanding how bacteria interact with existing drugs, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.
Such efforts are essential in the global fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, highlighting KFSH&RC’s advanced research capabilities and its leading role in fostering scientific discoveries and enhancing patient care.
KFSH&RC research centre Head of the Infectious Disease and Immunity Department, Dr Ahmad Al Qahtani said: “Traditional bacterial identification methods may lead to misidentification, in contrast, WGS analysis offers a precise and targeted approach that ensures accurate identification and provides detailed insights into resistance mechanisms, proving its significance in disease outbreak investigations and patient care improvements.”
Meanwhile, its Head of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence, Dr Reem Almaghrabi said the discovery’s importance in advocating for continuous monitoring and the use of advanced technologies such as WGS in developing faster and more accurate diagnostic methods.
The discovery of "Riyadhensis" reinforces the potential of genomic tests in innovating promising diagnostic and therapeutic methods, as well as deepening the understanding of bacterial resistance mechanisms, particularly in sensitive environments like intensive care units (ICU) and among patients with compromised immune systems.
This represents substantial progress in combatting antibiotic resistance, developing pharmaceuticals, and preventing the spread of diseases.
This newly identified bacteria was discovered amid an in-depth investigation into a suspected outbreak in the ICU of KFSH&RC in 2019, highlighting challenges previously unrecognised by the global scientific and medical communities in pinpointing and countering new bacterial strains.
Understanding the nuances of new bacterial species, particularly their antibiotic resistance, is crucial in modern healthcare and serves as the primary means of combatting bacterial infections. As these bacteria continuously evolve their resistance, they pose a significant and ongoing threat to human health.
-- BERNAMA
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