Detection of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in ascitic fluid
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Detection of leukocyte cells and bacteria in ascitic fluid
IRAS ID
285273
Contact name
Nishal Govindji-Bhatt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Microbiosensor Ltd.
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cirrhotic liver patients with ascites (fluid build up in the peritoneal cavity) are at risk of life-threatening bacterial peritonitis. The infection arises quickly and is typically managed by hospital admission and broad spectrum empiric antibiotic therapy until antibiotic susceptibility information and cell counts which confirm infection are obtained by centralised hospital laboratories. This typically takes up to 4 days, during which, if the wrong front line antibiotic has been administered, the patient's risk of further complications increases.
Microbiosensor is developing a simple device that can be used at the bedside of patients in clinic which, after introducing a sample of ascitic fluid into the in vitro diagnostic device, will provide a digital readout confirming the presence of a clinically relevant level of leukocyte cells (indicating infection) and antibiotic susceptibility information for bacteria present, to clinicians, within hours.
In the current application, Microbiosensor need to obtain and test ascitic fluid from patients who are well (uninfected fluid), as well as those with suspected peritonitis, for testing fluid compatibility with the device chemistry and to optimise sensitivity with the detection systems under development in the laboratory.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
20/WS/0144
Date of REC Opinion
20 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion