Demonstration of a Sensor Catheter Technology for the Real Time Diagnosis of Sepsis

Severe sepsis is a major cause of morbidity & mortality, claiming up to 64k lives/yr in the UK alone; 30-50% will die as a result of the condition. There is no reliable way to prevent sepsis, and no vaccine. The key to saving lives lies in early recognition and immediate treatment. Timely identification is therefore critical. Lactate levels in blood provide an indication of the level of sepsis in a critically ill patient. Antibiotics are used to lower lactate levels. 43% of patients die if lactate clearance takes more than 24 hours. Current treatment methodologies are time consuming (taking/analysing blood samples). This project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel type of vascular catheter technology for the measurement of sepsis through the real time detection of lactate in blood, through targeted laboratory & patient trails. This innovative on-line solution will improve treatment response times to potentially avoid detrimental impact on internal organs, benefitting patients globally.