Isotopic Labeling Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Abstract This proposal is for a rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test. Bacteremia and sepsis remain major health problems with high mortality. Progression is often rapid, so that a single hour saved in diagnosis time can significantly reduce septicemia death rates. Faster tests are needed to save lives. We propose Rigel, a rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test that makes use of a novel isotopic labelling mechanism.Relevance to public health: Sepsis, the leading cause of US hospital death, is usually preceded by bacteremia. Sepsis is the most expensive US hospital condition, at $24 billion per year. Bacteremia (bloodstream infection) is itself a growing medical problem. Considering just nosocomial bacteremias in the US, there are 250,000 such cases per year with about 20% mortality. Bacteremia incidence is increasing and mortality remains stubbornly high. This research, if successful, will lead to a new, cost-effective, rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test. In bacteremia and sepsis, speed is life. Sepsis mortality increases every hour effective antibiotic intervention is delayed. This research is thus of substantial potential importance to public health.