Only at Hillel Yaffe:

They call it Alfred, and it is Hillel Yaffe’s microbiology laboratory’s new, effective acquisition. Introducing the automated, innovative system for quick diagnosis of urinary tract infections, the first of its kind in Israel, can currently only be found at Hillel Yaffe.  The name, by the way, came like that originally from Italy.

Over the past two months an automated, innovative system, which enables the results of urinary infection diagnostic tests to be received within four hours, has been introduced to the microbiology laboratory at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. The system, which goes by the name of “Alfred,” comes from Italy, and others like it can be found at many medical centers worldwide, although mainly in Europe. In Israel, so far Hillel Yaffe Medical Center is the only hospital to be equipped with a system of this type.

Why are fast results important?

Urinary infections are one of the most common medical complaints. Rapid diagnosis enables the physician to choose the most appropriate form of treatment, i.e. treatment with antibiotics if necessary.

The traditional method used today to diagnose urinary tract infections takes a relatively long time, from 24 to 48 hours, and in most cases antibiotics are given to the patient immediately to prevent their medical situation from deteriorating.

In contrast, the new Alfred system detects and quantifies bacterial growth in real time using a digital, laser-based method. Changing the testing system has three implications and advantages:

1. It significantly shortens the time needed for diagnosis.
2. It prevents antibiotic treatment from being given unnecessarily; a known cause of the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a weighty health issue in its own right these days.
3. It affects the duration of stay in hospital and the efficiency of the laboratory’s work.

 “We are delighted that we can provide better service to the departments,” said Sarit Freeman, Director of the Bacteriology Laboratory. “The system’s complete success is the result of full, close collaboration between the laboratory, pharmacy and the departments. The patients are, of course, the main beneficiaries of the Alfred system, if not directly, and that’s what’s important.”