Researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland have identified antibiotic-resistant bacteria by leveraging AI, marking a first step towards integrating Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) into clinical diagnosis.
GPT-4 is an AI system developed by OpenAI and can be used for analysing antibiotic resistance.
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The research team was led by UZH Institute of Medical Microbiology professor Adrian Egli.
In a pilot study, researchers used AI to analyse the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test, a standard lab method that helps doctors determine what antibiotics can treat specific bacterial infections.
The researchers developed the ‘EUCAST-GPT-expert’ solution based on GPT-4.
EUCAST-GPT-expert follows stringent European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines to interpret mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance.
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By GlobalDataThe system was tested on several bacterial samples to identify resistance to essential antibiotics.
Egli said: “Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat worldwide, and we urgently need faster, more reliable tools to detect it.
“Our research is the first step toward using AI in routine diagnostics to help doctors identify resistant bacteria more quickly.”
Although the AI could identify certain resistance types, it occasionally misclassified nonresistant bacteria, potentially causing treatment delays.
In comparison to human experts, the AI system’s performance was seen as flawed, yet it offers a tool for standardising and expediting diagnostic procedures.
The study emphasises AI’s potential to transform healthcare by reducing manual test interpretation variability, which could enhance patient care.
The research suggests that AI could play a significant role in addressing the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.
With further refinement, AI-driven diagnostic systems could assist laboratories around the world in rapidly and accurately identifying drug-resistant infections, thereby helping to maintain the effectiveness of current antibiotic treatments.
