NEW DELHI: Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, today installed a first-of-its-kind cutting edge technology bioMerieux's MALDI-TOF-VITEK® MS system in India - a rapidly automated microbial identification system that identifies disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi so that correct diagnosis and early treatment is achieved.

Dr. Raman Sardana, Senior Consultant (Microbiology) & Additional Director - Medical Services, Apollo Hospitals Group said, "Over the past decade, new technologies and automated solutions have greatly reduced the amount of time it takes to provide doctors with actionable results in managing infection. The speed of diagnostic laboratory results has a critical impact on curbing the increasing antimicrobial resistance. The rapid identification of microorganisms has been shown to help guide patient treatment and improve clinical outcomes. Waiting several days for a definitive identification of the pathogen provides an obstacle to the clinician seeking to target therapy with the most effective treatment. This is where technologies such as MALDI-TOF-VITEK MS are helpful with their accuracy and specificity."

With the help of MALDI-TOF-VITEK MS, the type of infection or infections present can be speedily determined, allowing doctors to more specifically target their therapies with the right antimicrobial at the right dosage. This plays an important role in preventing and slowing the emergence of resistant bacteria and fungi which is a much-wanted need in the world today. In the coming months identification of all microbes including virus would be a possibility.

About MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry)

Mass Spectrometry (MS) is a technique used to screen simultaneously a multitude of molecules and determine the identity of microbes by exciting them with laser and analysing their protein pattern by analysing their individual mass-to-charge ratio. These molecular "signatures" can be used for rapid bacterial and fungal identification (ID) from isolated colonies. MALDI-TOF-VITEK MS is based on Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization -time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) - one of the latest and most promising technologies, producing results in a matter of few minutes rather than days as it happens currently.

The biggest payoff comes to the patients and clinicians with huge reduction in the time it takes to identify organisms. This technology assists clinicians dealing with infectious diseases in facing the ever-increasing number of potentially pathogenic species of bacteria and fungi in fluxed into clinical significance. The accuracy and specificity of this technology is unparalleled.

Advantages of MALDI-TOF-VITEK:

• Quick and simple detection
• Accuracy and specificity
• Saves time
• Cost effective
• Reliable identification

This technology helps in the rapid diagnosis of the disease like typhoid, urinary tract infection, pneumonia among others.

About Apollo Hospitals

In 1983, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, the architect of Indian healthcare, launched the first corporate hospital in India, Apollo Hospitals Chennai. Over the years, Apollo Hospitals Group has grown to become one of Asia's largest integrated healthcare organizations with over 8,500 beds across 50 hospitals, more than 1350 pharmacies and over 100 diagnostic clinics. The Group also offers medical business process outsourcing services, health insurance services and clinical research divisions with a focus on epidemiological studies, stem cell research and genetic research. To develop talent for the burgeoning need of superior healthcare delivery, Apollo Hospitals Group has 11 nursing and hospital management colleges. These achievements have earned Apollo Hospitals Group several accolades, including the Centre of Excellence from the Government of India and recognition from the Joint Commission International (seven of our hospitals are JCI accredited). In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organisation. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, in 2010. Apollo Hospitals Group, for over 28 years, has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.