New Rapid Diagnostic Tools for Fighting Bloodstream Infections
Developing faster tools to deliver the right antibiotic earlier and prevent deaths from infection
University of Calgary post-doctoral fellow Dr. Thomas Rydzak is spearheading the development of rapid mass spectrometry-based diagnostic tools
Bloodstream infections kill thousands of Canadians each year. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the right antibiotic were administered early in the progression of the disease. Unfortunately, it takes 2-4 days to complete the laboratory testing necessary to identify a pathogen and measure its sensitivity to antibiotics. If patient’s get the wrong antibiotic during this time, then their chances of dying or developing permanent disabilities are significantly higher. Faster diagnostic tools are urgently needed to match patients with the right antibiotic.
BME researchers at the University of Calgary have teamed up with Calgary Laboratory Services to solve this global problem. With support from Genome Canada, this team has built a prototype device that can complete all of the laboratory testing in hours rather than days. This new technology harnesses state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and fluidics to detect the metabolic signature of dangerous pathogens in a fraction of the time needed by conventional tools.
The research team is currently working to translate this exciting new technology into a practical device for routine medical testing. At some point in the near future, doctors across Canada may use this technology to match each patient with the best available antibiotic and thousands of additional people will survive their bloodstream infections.
Team members (left to right) Dr. Ian Lewis, Dr. Deirdre Church, and Dr. Amir Sanati-Nezhad
Miranda Moll, a staff scientist at the Calgary Metabolomics Research Facility analyzes samples on a mass spectrometry platform
Team
Partners
Thermo-Fisher Scientific
Calgary Laboratory Services