Sepsis is an infection caused by microbes entering the circulatory system, leading to organ failure. The mortality of patients with sepsis is high, and its treatment calls for significant healthcare resources. Sepsis patients require immediate care, and the cause must be identified quickly to ensure accurate treatment.
Rapid diagnosis and efficient treatment as the goal
It takes at least a day to verify the blood culture sample taken from a new patient as positive. If a yeast or other slowly growing microbe is discovered, or if a factor inhibiting microbial growth is found in blood (such as an antibiotic), a positive result may take several days to develop. The most recent technological solutions make diagnoses quicker and provide more information to support accurate treatment.
A sepsis diagnosis in 3–5 hours after sampling
T2Dx by T2Biosystems is an analyser that can detect microbes directly from a whole blood sample in 3–5 hours without any prior blood culture. Bacteria, fungi and the most important antibiotic resistance genes can be analysed simultaneously from samples, if required. The device detects clinically significant microbes that cause sepsis.
If a patient has taken antibiotics before taking the blood culture sample, microbial growth may be slow or inhibited in the blood culture device, causing the blood culture results to be negative or significantly delayed. In T2Dx, any antibiotics in the sample do not affect the results, as the analyser produces analysis results quickly and reliably despite any antibiotics.
Microbial identification from more than 4,000 species
The MALDI Biotyper mass spectrometer by Bruker identifies microbes in samples based on the profile produced by their biomolecules. The sample material can be a single colony from a culture plate or a blood culture sample processed using a Sepsityper kit, from which the microbe can be identified in as little as 20 minutes after the positive blood culture bottle alarm. Bruker’s large reference library covers more than 4,000 microbial species. It can comprehensively identify potential causes of sepsis, for example.
Antibiotic susceptibility test result in 2–4 hours
After positive blood culture results, the patient’s antibiotic treatment must be reassessed, considering the identified microbial species, the correct dosage of antibiotics, and any potential antibiotic resistance. The QuickMIC analyser by Gradientech carries out antibiotic susceptibility tests directly from a positive blood culture sample in 2–4 hours. Lack of sub-culture results quicker analysis compared to conventional dilution series or disc diffusion susceptibility testing.
QuickMIC employs a linear gradient to produce a precise MIC value. Based on that the dosage of antibiotics can be determined more accurately allowing more specific and targeted antibiotic dosing. Desired effects of antibiotic treatment can be reached, any adverse impact can be reduced and the development of an antibiotic resistance can be prevented.
Quicker and more accurate sepsis diagnostics
Triolab’s product range consists of new solutions alongside the more conventional methods for sepsis diagnostics in several areas. As a result, sepsis diagnosis and treatment based on identifying the pathogen and determining the antibiotic susceptibility are quicker and more accurate and effective. The new methods save healthcare resources and, above all, improve the patient prognosis.