Abstract illustration representing rapid antibiotic resistance detection using chromatography.

Rapid Antibiotic Resistance Detection: A New TLC Method for Faster Treatment

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Combatting superbugs: How a novel thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique is speeding up the identification of beta-lactamase activity, including carbapenemases, to guide effective antibiotic use."

Beta-lactam antibiotics are essential for treating serious infections, but their effectiveness is threatened by the rise of beta-lactamase producing bacteria. These enzymes degrade beta-lactams, rendering them useless. As new beta-lactam antibiotics are introduced, bacteria evolve new beta-lactamases, creating a continuous challenge for healthcare.

Carbapenems, a type of beta-lactam, were once highly stable against beta-lactamases. However, the emergence of carbapenemases has led to widespread carbapenem resistance, posing a significant threat to public health. Rapid detection of carbapenemase production is crucial for determining carbapenem resistance and guiding appropriate treatment decisions.

Traditional methods for detecting carbapenemase production are time-consuming or complex. A new method called "Lactamaster", based on thin layer chromatography (TLC), offers a rapid and simple way to identify beta-lactamase activity, including carbapenemases, in clinical isolates. This method can determine their activity on different types of beta-lactam antibiotics within one hour.

How Does Lactamaster Work?

Abstract illustration representing rapid antibiotic resistance detection using chromatography.

The Lactamaster method relies on observing changes in the migration rate of beta-lactams in chromatography due to degradation by beta-lactamase enzymes. Bacterial isolates are incubated with beta-lactam antibiotics, and then the mixture is applied to a TLC plate. The plate is developed, and the antibiotics are visualized under UV light. If beta-lactamases are present, they will degrade the antibiotics, causing them to migrate differently on the plate.

Key features of the Lactamaster method:

Rapid: Results are available within one hour.
Simple: Easy to perform and interpret.
Versatile: Can detect a wide range of beta-lactamases, including carbapenemases.
Informative: Identifies which beta-lactam drugs are inactivated by the bacterial enzymes.

In a study, Lactamaster was used to screen 44 bacterial isolates, including 29 carbapenemase-producers and 15 non-carbapenemase-producers. The method accurately distinguished between the two groups with high sensitivity. It also provided information about the specific beta-lactam drugs inactivated by the enzymes.

The Potential Impact of Rapid Beta-Lactamase Detection

The Lactamaster method offers a valuable tool for guiding antimicrobial treatment, especially in critically ill patients infected with bacteria producing beta-lactamases. By rapidly identifying the presence and activity of these enzymes, clinicians can make more informed decisions about which antibiotics are likely to be effective.

While further validation is needed, Lactamaster holds promise for improving antibiotic stewardship and combating the spread of antibiotic resistance. Its simplicity and speed make it a practical option for clinical laboratories.

Future research will focus on determining the sensitivity of Lactamaster in different clinical isolates and exploring its potential for direct detection of beta-lactamases in clinical samples, such as urine or blood culture media.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.mimet.2018.11.016, Alternate LINK

Title: Rapid Detection Of Beta-Lactamase Production Including Carbapenemase By Thin Layer Chromatography

Subject: Microbiology (medical)

Journal: Journal of Microbiological Methods

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Zeynep Kanlidere, Onur Karatuna, Tanil Kocagöz

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Lactamaster method?

The Lactamaster method is a novel approach utilizing thin layer chromatography (TLC) to quickly identify the presence of beta-lactamase enzymes in bacteria. These enzymes break down beta-lactam antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. Lactamaster visually detects this breakdown, providing a rapid assessment of beta-lactamase activity.

Why are beta-lactamases important?

Beta-lactamases are significant because they are enzymes produced by bacteria that break down beta-lactam antibiotics, a crucial class of drugs used to treat serious infections. The presence of these enzymes leads to antibiotic resistance, diminishing the effectiveness of these life-saving medications. The Lactamaster method helps identify these enzymes, which is crucial for choosing effective antibiotics. The development of carbapenemases, a type of beta-lactamase, has led to carbapenem resistance, posing a major threat to public health.

What are the implications of beta-lactamase activity?

The implications of beta-lactamase activity are substantial. When bacteria produce beta-lactamases, they can neutralize beta-lactam antibiotics, making them ineffective in treating infections. This leads to treatment failures, prolonged illnesses, and increased risk of complications. Rapid methods like Lactamaster are essential to quickly identify which antibiotics will be effective, thus improving patient outcomes and slowing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

How does the Lactamaster method work?

Lactamaster works by exploiting the principle that beta-lactamase enzymes degrade beta-lactam antibiotics. In the Lactamaster method, bacterial isolates are incubated with beta-lactam antibiotics. This mixture is then applied to a thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate. After development, the TLC plate is examined under UV light. The change in the migration rate of the antibiotics on the TLC plate reveals whether the antibiotics were degraded by the bacterial enzymes. The presence of beta-lactamase activity will be evident by different migration patterns.

What are the advantages of the Lactamaster method?

The key benefits of the Lactamaster method include its speed, simplicity, versatility, and informative nature. Lactamaster provides results within one hour, making it a rapid diagnostic tool. It is easy to perform and interpret, making it accessible to various laboratories. It can detect a wide range of beta-lactamases, including carbapenemases. Lactamaster also identifies which specific beta-lactam drugs are inactivated by the bacterial enzymes. This information is invaluable for guiding antibiotic treatment decisions.