Diagnosing sepsis can be frustratingly slow when traditional techniques are employed, and lives can be saved by speeding up the process. We talk to Dr Natalie Whitfield, director of scientific and medical affairs at GenMark Diagnostics, about how ePlex technology is improving patient care.
Can you provide background on GenMark Diagnostics and the ePlex system?
Dr Natalie Whitfield: GenMark Diagnostics delivers molecular diagnostic solutions, designed to impact patient outcomes and reduce cost-of-care. The ePlex system integrates the entire process from order-to-report, and offers unique solutions designed to improve antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infection control in the delivery of patient-centred, value-based care. The ePlex software provides bidirectional LIS, epidemiological tracking, auto-filing of results, external quality control management and the new Templated Comments (TC) module.
How does the TC module work?
The availability of rapid, multiplexed technologies for comprehensive detection of infectious diseases is creating a paradigm shift in the role labs play in impacting patient outcomes, infection control and AMS. The drastically improved turnaround time from test order to reported result removes the laboratory as a bottle neck in patient care. The new capability has created the need for enhanced synergy between the lab and the rest of the care team.
The ePlex TC module provides a rules-based engine that enables users to customise conditions based on the ePlex Blood Culture Identification (BCID) Panel results to communicate interpretive comments on the result report and through to the LIS. Users can define specific rules for organism and antimicrobial resistance gene combinations in a logical structure. The TC module allows pharmacists to translate the antibiogram, formulary and their expertise into an action plan, empowering physicians to more quickly and efficiently treat patients and improve patient care.
Could you run through a case study of how it might be used in practice?
A patient arrives at the ED with suspected sepsis. Blood culture bottles are collected while the patient is started on broad spectrum antibiotics. Blood bottles ring positive later that day, triggering pathogen ID and resistance testing. Using the ePlex system, pathogen ID and antimicrobial resistance gene results are available within 90 minutes. Alternatively, traditional subculture and AST results take 48 hours.
If the laboratory has implemented the ePlex TC module, customised results can be transmitted from the instrument into the LIS, providing guidance on how to use these rapid results, eliminating the need to wait for consulation from specialists.
How does your ePlex system benefit laboratories, patients and clinicians?
Laboratories benefit from an easy-to-use system, that can be performed on all shifts. The test requires less than two minutes of hands-on time and the results can be automatically released to the LIS. Clinicians benefit from rapid results that can provide institution-specific guidance for optimal treatment.
The ePlex system has the broadest BCID panels available, delivering more information faster than non-molecular identification methods and AST so clinicians can make treatment decisions days earlier than for AST results, potentially improving outcomes.
In general, how does this approach distinguish GenMark in the market?
Recent studies have shown that rapid results for bloodstream infections have a significant impact on patients and the cost of care when the results are combined with an AMS. The bidirectional interface, from order-to-report, with new customized Templated Comments helps hospitals provide quality patient care and keep compliance with their AMS metrics.