Bedside measurement of plasma antibiotic concentrations in patients with severe infektions

Purpose and goal

Adequate dosing of antibiotics is important to treat bacterial infections. In severely ill patients, the blood antibiotic concentration should be monitored. Currently, measurement of antibiotic concentrations in blood is impractical as it takes several days and is also expensive, thus it is rarely used. The project´s objective was to develop a method for bedside measurement of antibiotics in blood and test it in clinical setting.

Expected results and effects

We have succeeded in developing methods for sample handling, an instrument for antibiotic concertation measurement is now available as a clinical prototype and we have tested it in a clinical environment. The precision of the instrument shows that we can detect for overdosing of antibiotics but the precision needs to be improved to detect underdosing.

Planned approach and implementation

Optimization of blood test management was carried out with the help of Klinisk Kemi, Uppsala University Hospital. Sampling kits were developed in together with healthcare staff. Clinical prototype was developed by Pharmacolog AB. Clinical tests were conducted at the Uppsala University Hospital.