Sepsis, also known as septicemia, is a serious condition characterized by an extreme reaction of the immune system to an infection, leading to loss of organ function. It is estimated to be responsible for nearly 270,000 deaths per year in the US.
Sepsis
Rapid detection and treatment of this deadly disease are crucial to patient survival. A new blood screening test, currently being evaluated at Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, can help achieve this goal.
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Sepsis: evaluating the effectiveness of a non-invasive blood test
The blood test, featured in the British magazine The Times, assesses the high levels of DNA fragments associated with sepsis in blood samples taken from patients. More specifically, it determines the protein level in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). These structures are made up of DNA, histones, and microbicidal proteins released by the immune system when it becomes overloaded and causes sepsis. These assays take only 45 minutes. This would allow for a quick diagnosis.
The trial at the two UK hospitals began on November 27 and will last one year. During this time, the researchers will test whether the blood test is effective in detecting sepsis at an early stage. If the results are convincing, the test could be used to quickly detect the disease in patients who present with symptoms in the emergency room or whose condition worsens in the hospital.
Early detection is crucial to saving lives
For researchers, finding a way to detect cases of sepsis at an early stage is crucial. Dr. Andrew Retter, Consultant Intensive Care Physician at the two test hospitals, who is leading the study, told the British press: “Sepsis is the leading cause of death in hospitals, with mortality rates increasing by up to 8% for every hour of delay in treatment. The ability to identify patients at highest risk of sepsis using a simple blood test would be a paradigm shift in the field and could save thousands of lives every year.”
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Dr. Ron Daniels, founder and co-director of the UK Sepsis Trust, added: “Delayed diagnosis leads not only to loss of life and increased care costs, but also to poor outcomes for survivors, including disability.” He continued: “Any test that can help us identify those patients at greatest risk of sepsis can ensure we identify and treat those patients in the most urgent need first: If this research shows that NET proteins fulfill their promise as a risk stratification tool, then lives can undoubtedly be saved. ”
References
Lintern, S. (2023, December 18). ‘Breakthrough’ blood test for sepsis to save lives. The Sunday Times. Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sepsis-blood-test-trial-diagnosis-qgjmlk8gw
National Institute of General Medical Sciences. (2023). Sepsis. Retrieved from https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/sepsis.aspx
