Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to infection, leading to organ damage and, if untreated, death. It is a leading cause of mortality in the UK, with 245,000 cases and 48,000 deaths annually, according to the UK Sepsis Trust.
Diagnosing sepsis can be challenging because its symptoms often overlap with other conditions. An array of tests including temperature, pulse, blood pressure and bloods can help to identify sepsis. Timely recognition is crucial to ensure prompt treatment and prevent progression to severe sepsis or septic shock.
As part of a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded project, Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIOTV) is working with a company called Seroxo which has developed a point of care blood test (LIT). This is a portable finger prick blood test that can be performed at the patient’s bedside. It measures a specific biomarker in the blood (the capacity of neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species) and gives a result in ten minutes, indicating whether the patient is a greater risk of sepsis.
Two papers have been published from small clinical studies testing the Leukocyte ImmunoTest (LIT).
High generation of reactive oxygen species from neutrophils in patients with severe COVID-19
Assessing neutorophil-derived ROS production at the bedside: a potential prognostic tool in severe COVID-19 cases
This research seeks to bring together patients with lived experiences of sepsis and clinical staff to help identify barriers, facilitate better communication and promote mutual understanding in this fast-paced condition.
By engaging those directly impacted – patients and clinicians – this initiative aims to create tools and strategies that ensure decisions about sepsis are collaborative, informed and centred on the best outcomes for patients.
The HIOTV Community Involvement and Workforce Innovation team is leading the public and patient engagement part of the grant.