Severe Infections in the Emergency Room
Developing new tests to diagnose patients who have severe infections in the emergency room

In collaboration with physicians at Duke University Medical Center, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and Durham Veterans Administration Hospital, program leader, Dr. Stephen Kingsmore along with NCGR scientists, have developed a new test to identify patients who have severe inflammatory response to infections (called sepsis). Sepsis is a leading cause of death in the United States; however, the course of progression from sepsis onset to death is rapid and heterogenous, making accurate personalized diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner even more critical. The new test allows physicians to differentiate between patients who have sepsis and those who have other illness(es) that mimic sepsis. A second, new test allows physicians to identify individual patients who will have very severe illness and who need to be given the most intensive therapy available. For example, patients who have sepsis and do not have a fever have a much higher chance of dying than patients who do have a fever. Finally, by studying changes in the levels of biochemicals (metabolomics), proteins (proteomics) and the protein-coding part of the genome (mRNA sequencing) in sepsis patients, NCGR scientists have discovered a basic molecular mechanism whereby patients die of sepsis. These discoveries are very exciting because they are suggesting new ways to treat patients with sepsis and save lives. Results of these studies were recently presented by NCGR scientists at national conferences in Biddeford, ME by Dr. Jennifer van Velkinburgh and Boston, MA by Dr. Ray Langley and at an international immunity conference by Dr. van Velkinburgh. These studies are funded by the National Institutes of Health, Pfizer Inc. and Roche Diagnostics Inc.