Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 25: Researchers at IIT Madras have created a breakthrough microfluidic device that can determine bacterial resistance to antibiotics in just three hours, offering a quick, cost-effective solution to one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The device, named ‘ε-µD’, is based on screen-printed carbon electrodes embedded in a microfluidic chip and does not require expensive materials or highly trained personnel, making it ideal for use in rural clinics and smaller healthcare centres.

Traditionally, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) takes up to 72 hours, often forcing doctors to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics while waiting for results — a practice that contributes heavily to the rise of AMR. In contrast, the ε-µD device uses electrochemical signals to detect bacterial growth and susceptibility, cutting down the testing time to just three hours.

“Our device could be life-saving, especially in ICUs where timely identification of effective antibiotics is critical,” said Prof. S. Pushpavanam of IIT Madras.

Tested on E. coli and B. subtilis, with antibiotics ampicillin and tetracycline, the device accurately identified resistance patterns. It also successfully detected antibiotic resistance in urine samples, proving its potential for real-world diagnostics.

This innovation, published in Nature Scientific Reports, could help address AMR — a global health threat linked to nearly 5 million deaths in 2019, according to WHO — by enabling faster, targeted antibiotic treatments and curbing misuse.