Point-of-Care Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Diagnosis Enhanced by Nanostructured Biosensors: Review Paper

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common nosocomial infection in North America leading to over $12 billion in annual health care costs. UTIs can significantly reduce the quality of life and, in severe cases, result in sepsis and mortality. According to Public Health Ontario, over 80% of long-term care home (LTCH) residents with asymptomatic bacteriuria are treated with antibiotics, however, less than 50% of the antibiotic treatments for UTIs show clinical benefit. Current confirmatory processes for UTIs are primarily dependent on the completion of urine cultures which can result in a delay of more than 24 h. Therefore, there is a need to develop new efficient diagnostic methods to provide timely test results and prevent multidrug resistance. Emerging nanomaterials with special physical and chemical properties have demonstrated great potential in rapid detection of UTI-associated bacteria. This review paper provides a thorough analysis of current diagnostic tools for UTIs. Emerging nanostructured biosensors are reviewed to elucidate the most recent progress in the detection of uropathogens. It is believed that advanced biosensors integrated with nanotechnology will contribute to the timely diagnosis of UTIs and improve the accuracy of the results, which will lead to better treatment of this prevalent clinical condition.