RID-RTI

Rapid Identification of Respiratory Tract Infections

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Respiratory Tract Infections (RTIs) are caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, fungal and other pathogens. RTIs are major causes of morbidity and mortality in adults and children worldwide causing millions of deaths each year. RTIs affecting the lung parenchyma (pneumonia) can be classified into three main categories: Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP); Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) which includes Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP); and opportunistic pathogens causing pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients (Opportunistic RTIs or ORTIs). RTIs are difficult to diagnose accurately and current standard microbiological culture based tests are laborious and time consuming with a turnaround time to results > 30 hours. Thus, all ill patients presenting with CAP, HAP, VAP or ORTIs are initially treated empirically with antibiotics, without an accurate identification of the causative microorganism and associated antibiotic susceptibility profile. This leads to inappropriate use of antibiotics, which can increase patient morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a great need for rapid molecular diagnostics tests capable of identifying a large range of microorganisms and antibiotic resistances rapidly and accurately so that appropriate therapy can be instituted on first consultation. Accurate pathogen identification and resistance profiling is also important for the epidemiological surveillance of pneumonia. The aims of the RiD-RTI project are (through a unique partnership of SMEs, universities and hospitals from 4 countries) to develop and evaluate three diagnostics products for the rapid diagnosis of CAP, HAP/VAP and ORTIs, based on a novel “sample-in, answer-out” diagnostic platform. The diagnostics products will be designed to be ‘near patient’, reliable, cost-effective and user friendly allowing for the rapid (< 2 hrs) and accurate detection, identification, quantification (for selected targets) and molecular drug susceptibility testing of RTIs.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Accurate diagnosis of microorganisms causing pneumonia is central for deciding on the most effective treatment. European researchers are working on a 'sample-in, answer-out' diagnostic platform to facilitate rapid diagnosis.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) rank among the top major causes of morbidity and mortality in adults and children worldwide. They are caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens that affect lung tissue leading to pneumonia. RTIs are usually classified into community acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) and opportunistic RTIs (ORTIs).

Inappropriate antibiotic therapy contributes greatly to increased morbidity and mortality rates, and injudicious antibiotic use generates antibiotic resistance. Currently, patients are empirically treated without an accurate diagnosis of the causative microorganism and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. However, diagnosis relies on microbiological culture, a time-consuming and labour intensive process.

To address these limitations, scientists on the EU-funded http://www.rid-rti.eu (RID-RTI) (Rapid identification of respiratory tract infections) project proposed the development of a diagnostic platform that uses molecular biology to identify the specific microbial aetiology of RTIs. The system would detect microbial DNA within two hours.

During the first part of the project, research teams optimised sample preparation procedures and developed a rapid and reliable method for extracting and purifying microbial DNA. Significant progress has also been achieved with respect to the design and development of the instrument for sample analyses through PCR amplification and microarray detection.

Rapid identification of the microbial aetiology and drug resistance profile of RTIs will take patient management to another level. Through microorganism-specific decisions on antibiotic therapy, hospitalisations will be reduced and patient clinical outcome is expected to improve.