Smartphone-Compatible Biofilm Detector for the Rapid Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens in Austere Settings
Abstract
Fiscal Year 2018 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Topic Area: Antimicrobial resistance. The proposed studies focus on the development of novel, innovative diagnostics and/or detectors for multidrug-resistant pathogens, especially technology that can be deployed in austere settings. The results of this approach and generated technology are a strong contribution to the development of biomarker-guided management strategies for severe infections in austere settings. Major Problem: It was once thought that military personnel suffered and died the most from infections they acquired on the battlefield following injury. However, pain and death from battlefield wounds has historically decreased due to better surgical training, pain management, and improved antibiotics. Disturbingly, the infections that sicken and kill injured military personnel the most are acquired in the military’s own healthcare facility. This is because the worst kind of bugs, bacteria that are not killed by antibiotics, are able to thrive in these facilities. These bacteria survive by producing a gooey coating called “biofilm” that stops cleaning solutions and many antibiotics from being effective. Injured or sick Soldiers are treated on surfaces or in environments contaminated with these drug-resistant bugs (pathogens); this increases these Soldier’s chances of getting sicker and dying. These “drug-resistant” bacteria work together to create this biofilm by releasing small molecules called “quorum-sensing peptides” (QSps). Bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii release QSps to create biofilm. In fact, A. baumannii is one of the worst bacteria that affect military patients the most. Currently there is neither a test nor device that can be deployed in austere settings to detect drug-resistant biofilm. Central Question: Is it possible to detect the presence of the drug-resistant bacteria on surfaces before placing military patients in that environment? If the presence of the bacteria can be detected before putting injured military patients nearby, the risk of these patients getting infected with these pathogens would be reduced. This would prevent unnecessary pain and death and improve the quality of life of injured patients who are being treated at military facilities. Innovative Solution: The innovative idea described in this proposal is to detect the presence of the drug-resistant bacteria by simply: (1) spraying the surface where the injured patient will be placed, (2) wiping the surface with an innovative paper towel, and then (3) scanning the stained paper towel with a smartphone app to determine if certain bacteria is present. Our technology is a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). An example of an RDT is a pregnancy test where users urinate on the device and positive or negative result lines appear. With the proposed paper towel technology, a QR code appears instead of simple result lines. This attribute makes the test compatible with smartphones. Instead of urine, a user will spray a detergent on the suspect surface, which will slightly dislodge the biofilm. The spray will also contain specific molecules and innovative nanotechnology that will bind biofilm-released QSps. All components will then bind to the paper towel in the form of a QR code. Once the smartphone reads the QR code, the result of the test will be immediately sent to military surveillance groups that track drug-resistant pathogens. Applicability and Impact: Implementing this innovative test in military medical facilities will save lives. This technology will allow caregivers to take action and prevent the treatment of injured military personnel in contaminated environments. The molecules that target the QSp molecules can be adapted to detect other molecules from other bacteria, viruses, and fungus. The underlying technology can be further adapted to be able to rapidly diagnose infected military personnel in an effort to quickly identify the correct, p
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910136
Entities
People
- Charleson Bell
Organizations
- United States Army
- Vanderbilt University