Antibiotic Resistance (ABR) Gene Marker Panel

Identifying the organism is only half the picture. Knowing which antibiotics that organism is likely to resist is what turns a result into a treatment plan. Antibiotic resistance is rising sharply, and prescribing a common first-line antibiotic to an organism that's already resistant to it means lost time, prolonged symptoms, and — for serious infections — real risk. This panel screens for 12 of the most clinically important resistance genes, flagging when standard treatments are likely to fail before they're prescribed.

Each marker points to a specific class of antibiotics:

• Carbapenem resistance — KPC, NDM, VIM, IMP-type, OXA-48-like. Carbapenems are among the most powerful "reserve" antibiotics, used when others fail. Organisms carrying these genes (often called CRE — carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales) are among the most difficult infections to treat, and detecting them early is one of the most valuable things this test can do.
• ESBL / cephalosporin resistance — CTX-M. The most common ESBL gene worldwide. It signals resistance to many widely used penicillins and cephalosporins, sharply narrowing which oral options are likely to work.
• Fluoroquinolone resistance — QNR. Fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin are a frequent UTI treatment; this flags when they're likely to be ineffective.
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) resistance — DfrA + Sul1/2. Together these cover both halves of TMP-SMX, one of the most common first-line oral UTI antibiotics — so resistance here directly affects a go-to prescription.
• MRSA marker — mecA/C. Indicates methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA), which changes which agents will actually work against a staph infection.
• Vancomycin resistance — VanA, VanB. Markers of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Important because vancomycin is a cornerstone drug for serious gram-positive infections.

Why this is worth it

• Right treatment, sooner. Resistance markers help match the prescription to what's actually likely to work — reducing the trial-and-error of empiric antibiotics.
• Catches the dangerous ones early. Multidrug-resistant organisms (CRE, MRSA, VRE, ESBL-producers) are precisely the infections where early identification matters most.
• Smarter antibiotic use. Avoiding antibiotics that won't work protects you from side effects and unnecessary drugs, and supports broader antibiotic stewardship.
• Especially valuable for recurrent or complicated cases, where prior antibiotic exposure makes resistance more likely.