Clinical exploitation of volatile compounds as early diagnostic markers of burn wound infection events through use of wound swabs

Summary

Currently there is no rapid diagnostic tool for diagnosing wound infection. Clinicians rely on factors such as clinical presentation, patient history and physical observations of the wound bed for diagnosis. Rapid diagnosis of the presence (or absence) of wound infection would enable more effective wound management through (1) reducing use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, (2) preventing negative impacts caused by delayed treatment, and (3) enabling targeted therapeutic approaches to be implemented (based on early detection of the species present).

We propose a novel diagnostic approach based on using the gases produced by bacteria (termed volatiles) to detect the presence of infection. This approach has already been proven within a laboratory setting by the project team but requires initial clinical validation to enable further funding to be sought (via NiHR). The present study proposes to recruit burns wound patients, whereby swabs will be taken directly from the wound surface of healing and non-healing wounds, to determine (1) the microorganisms present and (2) the gases (volatiles) produced. The resultant data will be statistically mapped to the clinical information to build a proof-of-concept dataset that demonstrates how wound gases (volatiles) can be utilised to identify infection events.

The knowledge gained within this study will enable future development of low-cost point-of-care technologies based on gas sensors that could either be used at the bedside or integrated into dressing technology.