Past projects

TDM-TIME

The TDM-TIME study (Therapeutic Drug Monitoring – Targeting Improved Effectiveness), led by Dr Jan Hansel, was a prospective observational study evaluating the feasibility of real-time therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in critically ill patients with respiratory sepsis. TDM uses liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to measure antibiotic blood levels, ensuring treatments are timely and within the therapeutic range. The study aimed to reduce turnaround times for TDM results, targeting actionable data within two dose intervals. Patients on piperacillin/tazobactam or meropenem had blood samples taken over 6–8 hours for analysis. Conducted at two intensive care units, the study also evaluated secondary outcomes such as process durations, therapeutic target attainment, ICU and hospital stay lengths, and 28-day mortality. Enrolment was completed in July 2024, and the study is now finished, with findings pending analysis.

ELUCEDA

ELUCEDA is a collaborative study between MFT and Eluceda Limited which is funded by Innovate UK. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant public health issue and can lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased resistance to antimicrobials, and high mortality rates. The physical environment plays a significant role in the transmission of HAIs in the hospital, particularly high-touch surfaces (e.g. doors, bedside tables). Commercial ATP bioluminometers are widely used for monitoring cleaning processes in healthcare, however, non-pathogenic surface contaminants can significantly impact readings. Eluceda have developed a biosensor which detects five common bacterial pathogens in a real-time and accurate manner. This information has the potential to provide a better understanding of bacterial contamination in the hospital and support cleaning process monitoring to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. This study aims to assess the environmental microbiome of high-touch surfaces within the hospital and demonstrate if Eluceda’s novel technology could be beneficial for infection control.