Clinical biomarker and rapid diagnostic test for Staphylococcus aureus induced ventilator-associated pneumonia

Project Information

Pro-Staph-ID

Grant agreement ID: 649160

DOI

10.3030/649160

Project closed

EC signature date 21 October 2014

Start date 1 October 2014

End date 31 December 2014

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

Arsanis Biosciences, GmbH
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Pro-Staph-ID (Clinical biomarker and rapid diagnostic test for Staphylococcus aureus induced ventilator-associated pneumonia)

Reporting period: 2014-10-01 to 2014-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Hospital acquired infections such as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) are associated with unacceptably high mortality rates and spiraling healthcare costs. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major human pathogen, and one of the leading causes of VAP and other nosocomial infections. Vital to the effective management and treatment of S. aureus VAP is the use of appropriate antimicrobial therapies, and ideally prophylactic measures to prevent the onset disease and reduce hospital costs. Often patients either suffering from VAP or seen as at risk of developing VAP are treated empirically with antibiotics until the causative pathogen is identified, and only then is treatment switched to appropriate antibiotics. Antibiotic stewardship efforts aim to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance are slowly leading to changing clinical guidelines, meaning that the causative pathogen is identified before appropriate antibiotic treatment is initiated. Such approaches rely on diagnostic measures to identify the infecting bacteria and resistance pattern, and usually take up to 36 hours to complete. Therefore, early identification of patients at risk of developing VAP coupled with characterization of the causative pathogen would allow early treatment and potential prevention, ultimately translating to reduced mortality and healthcare cost.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Arsanis has recently identified a novel biomarker to identify patients likely to develop S. aureus induced VAP. This initial Phase 1 Horizon 2020 project has investigated the feasibility of developing a unique rapid diagnostic test incorporating this biomarker, detecting S. aureus and other markers to characterize the bacteria, for use to at the bedside to identify these ‘at risk’ patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The test is aimed to give the ICU clinician rapid information to inform earlier and appropriate clinical intervention. Arsanis has undertaken six parallel work streams during the Horizon2020 feasibility project to investigate the technical and commercial feasibility of developing a rapid-bedside test to patients at risk of developing S. aureus induced VAP.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

During the Horizon 2020 feasibility project, Arsanis has identified a medical need, technical details and market niche for a rapid beside diagnostic test to identify patients at risk of developing S. aureus induced VAP in the ICU.

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