Poster: ANTI-SUPERBUGS (ASB) Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP): Towards a fast & non-invasive detection of Superbugs

Poster presented at the Healthcare Infection Society International Conference in Liverpool (UK) in 2018. 

Introduction: Active surveillance systems in all European member states and Norway are one of the main contributors to the reduction of infections associated with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). New technologies that combine current technological development with the needs identified by international health organizations must enter the MDRO war, creating the means to drastically reduce time of detection and antibiotic misuse in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).

Methods: The MDROs challenge, and the focus of this joint, 5,7 million European PCP project (co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 688878), is to detect superbugs and/or other vectors of HAIs; to inform, in real-time, healthcare professionals of the presence, on hospital environments and fomites, of potentially multi-resistant microorganisms; and to share the information with the healthcare provider’s electronic record systems whilst linking the detection with a geographical healthcare facility location.

Results: A methodology was defined to identify the needs of each country present in the ASB Consortium. Prioritization from the uncovered needs regarding MDROs identified Clostridioides difficile, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii as the MDROs most responsible for morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs and, therefore, as the MDROs the ASB PCP would target. Other needs, regarding technological demands, were also defined, concluding in the abovementioned requirements. Conclusions: The ASB PCP and its challenge towards the industry to develop solutions that detect potential MDROs and give real-time feedback to the user come from the need for more accurate antibiotic use and a reduction in healthcare costs.

(HIS 2018 | Healthcare Infection Society - Healthcare Infection Society)