Apparatus, systems, and methods for determining the susceptibility of infectious agents to anti-infectives

A system to determine a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective, the system comprising:

• a diagnostic device comprising:
• a sample receiving space, wherein the sample receiving space is configured to receive an inoculum solution through a sample inlet port of the diagnostic device,
• wherein the sample receiving space comprises a plurality of wells comprising a plurality of pH electrode wells and a plurality of oxidation reduction potential (ORP) electrode wells,
• wherein each of the pH electrode wells comprises a pH electrode and each of the ORP electrode wells comprises an ORP electrode,
• wherein at least one of the pH electrode wells and at least one of the ORP electrode wells are growth control wells devoid of the anti-infective,
• wherein at least two of the pH electrode wells and at least two of the ORP electrode wells are active electrode wells comprising the anti-infective at differing concentrations, and
• a buffer receiving space, wherein the buffer receiving space is configured to receive a reference buffer through a buffer inlet port of the diagnostic device,
• wherein the buffer receiving space comprises a plurality of reference electrode wells, wherein each of the reference electrode wells comprises a reference electrode, and wherein each of the reference electrode wells is in fluid communication with one of the pH electrode wells and one of the ORP electrode wells;
• wherein the sample receiving space is configured to receive a water immiscible liquid through the sample inlet port after the inoculum solution fills the wells of the diagnostic device;
• a parameter analyzer coupled to the diagnostic device, wherein the parameter analyzer is configured to monitor one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the active electrode wells and the growth control wells over a predetermined time period;
• and
• a computing device coupled to the parameter analyzer, wherein the computing device is configured to compare the one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the growth control wells with the one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the active electrode wells to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the anti-infective on the infectious agent.

A method of determining a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective, the method comprising:

• introducing an inoculum solution comprising the infectious agent into a sample receiving space of a diagnostic device through a sample inlet port,
• wherein the sample receiving space comprises a plurality of wells,
• wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises a pH electrode, an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) electrode, and a reference electrode,
• wherein at least one of the wells is a growth control well devoid of the anti-infective;
• wherein at least two of the remaining wells are active electrode wells comprising the anti-infective at differing concentrations,
• introducing a water immiscible liquid into the sample receiving space through the sample inlet port;
• incubating the diagnostic device comprising the inoculum solution and the water immiscible liquid for a predetermined time period;
• monitoring one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the active electrode wells and the growth control well over the predetermined time period;
• and
• comparing the one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the growth control well with the one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the active electrode wells to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the anti-infective on the infectious agent.

A system to determine a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective, the system comprising:

• a diagnostic device comprising:
• a sample receiving space, wherein the sample receiving space is configured to receive an inoculum solution through a sample inlet port of the diagnostic device,
• wherein the sample receiving space comprises a plurality of wells,
• wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises a pH electrode, an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) electrode, and a reference electrode,
• wherein at least one of the wells is a growth control well devoid of the anti-infective;
• wherein at least two of the remaining wells are active electrode wells comprising the anti-infective at differing concentrations, and
• wherein the sample receiving space is configured to receive a water immiscible liquid through the sample inlet port after the inoculum solution fills the wells of the diagnostic device;
• a parameter analyzer coupled to the diagnostic device, wherein the parameter analyzer is configured to monitor one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the active electrode wells and the growth control well over a predetermined time period;
• and
• a computing device coupled to the parameter analyzer, wherein the computing device is configured to compare the one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the growth control well with the one or more solution characteristics of the inoculum solution within the active electrode wells to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the anti-infective on the infectious agent.