Development and integration of advanced diagnostics into routine clinical care (INTEGRATE)
By applying innovative diagnostic methods such as rapid point-of-care tests, multi-omics technologies as well as novel predictive models, clinical management and thus most likely treatment outcomes can be improved. In addition to the high information content of these new methods, the prompt availability of the results as well as the interpretation of the findings in the clinical context are prerequisites for an actual clinical benefit. So far, there is a lack of studies investigating the impact of these new methods on patient management in clinical practice. Within the framework of the INTEGRATE project, a pilot study will be conducted, on the basis of which a study protocol will be developed for a subsequently planned intervention study.
Within the INTEGRATE pilot study, an antibody-based rapid test for the detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is being developed. This test should make it possible to detect VRE in prepared patient isolates simply, cheaply and within minutes. In this way, appropriate measures (e.g. isolation of patients) or targeted effective therapies can be initiated immediately if necessary.
In a second part of the project, the focus is on the host or patient. Here, the early host response to a bloodstream infection/sepsis is investigated in order to quickly obtain information about the severity of the infection and subsequently implement an individualised therapy. The goal here is also to have to resort to reserve antibiotics or long therapy durations as rarely as possible in the sense of Antibiotic Stewardship.
