Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are turning everyday infections into serious health threats, and researchers at Empa are stepping up with a solution: smart sensors that can quickly detect resistant pathogens and help doctors choose the right treatment—before it’s too late.
Empa researchers are working on antibiotic resistance sensors whose dyes react to certain bacteria. Image Credit: Empa
With antibiotic resistance on the rise, even common ailments like urinary tract infections or skin wounds are becoming harder to treat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called this growing threat a “silent pandemic,” warning it could reach pre-penicillin levels of severity by 2028. Without fast, targeted diagnostics, doctors are often forced to prescribe antibiotics blindly—wasting precious time and risking ineffective treatment.
To combat this, Empa scientists are working with clinical partners on rapid diagnostic tools that make bacterial resistance visible within minutes or hours instead of days.
Light Sensor Indicates Pneumonia
One of the team’s promising projects targets Klebsiella pneumoniae, a multi-drug resistant bacterium behind many hospital-acquired pneumonias. In collaboration with the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Empa researcher Giorgia Giovannini is developing a sensor that glows when this superbug is present.
The sensor works by detecting urease, an enzyme produced by the bacteria. When urease breaks down the polymer shell around a fluorescent dye, the sensor lights up—offering a visual confirmation of infection. The technique, part of the "Doorstep" project, is being designed for use with simple throat swabs or sputum samples. If successful, it could reduce diagnosis time from several days to just a few hours.
Smart Bandage Warns of Dangerous Wound Infections
Wound infections are another front in the fight against superbugs. Not only can they be extremely painful and slow to heal—they’re also ideal breeding grounds for antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.
In a new project, Giovannini and Empa colleague Luciano Boesel are working on a multi-sensor wound dressing, again in partnership with the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen. The smart dressing uses silica nanoparticles embedded in a hydrogel to monitor wounds for signs of infection. The particles are functionalized to detect bacterial byproducts and enzymes, including beta-lactamase—a key indicator of antibiotic resistance.
If the enzyme is present, a dye in the sensor is broken down, causing it to glow under UV light. This fast, low-cost warning system could allow doctors to quickly identify infected wounds and tailor antibiotic treatments, right at the patient’s bedside.
Magnetic "Fishing" for Superbugs in Urine
Empa and ETH Zurich researchers have also developed a clever method to detect Pseudomonas aeruginosa—a bacterium that often causes urinary tract infections, especially in hospital patients with catheters. Their technique uses magnetic nanoparticles coated with proteins that bind only to this specific pathogen. Once added to a urine sample, the magnetic field can be used to “fish out” the bacterial cells.
Then comes the resistance test: using a chemiluminescence method, scientists can check which antibiotics still work. If the bacteria are resistant, the sample glows. If not, it stays dark. “All in all, the resistance test takes around 30 minutes – compared to several days for a classic cultivation of bacterial cultures,” says Qun Ren, group leader at Empa’s Biointerfaces lab in St. Gallen.
This rapid testing capability enables the swift identification of the appropriate antibiotic treatment, thereby helping to prevent the further development of antibiotic resistance.
Why It Matters
The number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains continues to rise, with pathogens like E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing millions of deaths annually. The WHO has made developing solutions to antibiotic resistance a global research priority.
Fast, precise diagnostics are one of the most effective tools available to slow the spread of resistance. By identifying the right bacteria—and the right treatment—sooner, these new sensor technologies could play a crucial role in safeguarding global health.
Fluorescent probe for bacteria detection-concept
Video Credit: Empa