PathID and value proposition identification

"This project is focused on the commercial and clinical need to understand the common causes of infection (typically bacteria, fungus, yeast and viruses) across the UK, the antibiotics used to treat the infection and the financial savings that could be made from an earlier diagnosis. Because this technology is faster to use and new, it is particularly important to determine how this new system should be integrated into a complex organisation such as the NHS.

Bacteria, yeasts or fungi are the most common cause of infections. Severe infections can cause Sepsis and if untreated, or treated with the wrong antibiotics, leads rapidly to organ damage and death. Currently most blood and urine infections rely on a doctor making the best guess as to the organisms responsible because the current diagnostic tests can take two to four days to provide a result.

The presence of antibiotics in the sample often prevents subsequent growth & detection but may not adequately treat the infection. As more & more organisms develop resistance to the most commonly used antibiotics the drugs used are becoming less and less effective. Additionally, there is increasing information to suggest\* the use of the wrong antibiotic may increase antibiotic resistance. Rapid DNA identification of organisms gets around all these issues.

This technology provides results to the doctor in under 12 hours enabling them to make a far more informed decision about the best course of treatment. This provides: better patient outcomes, increased survival, reduced length/costs of stay as well as significant reduction in the progress of antibiotic resistance.

The study will consult with the healthcare professionals to understand which are the major sources of infection around the UK that need to be identified quickly for direct treatment. Additionally, it will determine which antibiotics are used to treat where necessary. The work will also survey and discuss with clinicians about the optimal way to use the test to improve health and promote cost savings within the NHS.

The underlying technology is designed to deliver a rapid, high throughput, inexpensive and easy to use commercial system to enable the identification of bacteria, and other pathogens in human samples initially from whole blood and then urine and other sample media from their DNA rather than by conventional cultures. Positive samples will be further analysed for antibiotic resistance.

\*Lord O'Neill report, World Health Organisation and others."