Diagnostic system and process for rapid bacterial infection diagnosis
AssigneeNortheastern University
InventorsEdgar D. Goluch, Hunter J. Sismaet, Thaddaeus A. Webster
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Abstract
Methods and devices for monitoring the viability of a biofilm comprising Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria are provided by detecting pyocyanin. The invention relates to electrochemical methods and devices that offer a simple and inexpensive alternative for immediate identification of bacterial infection due to the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In some embodiments, an inexpensive, disposable electrochemical sensor can be used to rapidly screen for the presence of P. aeruginosa in clinical wound effluent samples.
Claims23
A method of monitoring viability of a biofilm comprising Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in a patient, the method comprising:
- (a) introducing a fluid sample from the patient into a microfluidic device including a working electrode and a reference electrode;
- (b) performing an electrochemical measurement to detect pyocyanin in the fluid sample;
- and
- (c) determining a concentration of pyocyanin in the fluid sample by using a previously determined correlation between pyocyanin concentration and current flow through the working electrode, the correlation comprising a linear relationship of increasing current flow with increasing pyocyanin concentration;
- wherein the pyocyanin concentration in the fluid sample provides a measure of the viability of the biofilm.
A method of monitoring effectiveness of an antibiotic treatment of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a patient, the method comprising:
- (a) introducing a fluid sample from the patient into a microfluidic device including a working electrode and a reference electrode;
- (b) performing an electrochemical measurement to detect pyocyanin in the fluid sample;
- and
- (c) determining a concentration of pyocyanin in the fluid sample by using a previously determined correlation between known concentrations of the pyocyanin and a current flow through the working electrode, the correlation comprising a linear relationship of increasing current flow with increasing pyocyanin concentration;
- wherein the infection comprises the presence of a biofilm in the patient, the biofilm comprising Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- and
- wherein the pyocyanin concentration in the fluid sample provides a measure of the effectiveness of the antibiotic treatment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.