Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosed in Hours vs. Days

The rapid detection of Candida enables physicians to provide targeted treatment quickly, and studies have shown this can reduce a positive sepsis patient's length of stay in the hospital by almost nine days.

Candidemia is a systemic fungal infection that occurs when Candida organisms in the blood spread to organs and tissues throughout the body. Candidemia is the fourth leading hospital-acquired bloodstream infection and the most lethal form of common bloodstream infection that causes sepsis, with an approximate 40% mortality rate.


In each of the 15 confirmed candidemia pediatric patient samples in a study, a diagnostic test was able to accurately identify the Candida species in three to five hours compared to two to six days for blood culture. In addition, the protocol was adapted in the study to be able to detect results from just 2 mL of blood compared to the 3 mL that is currently required for testing. A rapid negative result can prevent unnecessary administration of antimicrobials, further reducing costs. In addition, a rapid negative result can prevent or reduce antimicrobial resistance, which has been designated a serious threat.

The T2Candida Panel (T2 Biosystems; Lexington, MA, USA) was cleared for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Silver Springs, MD, USA) in September 2014 for the detection of sepsis causing Candida. T2Candida Panel performance was established in adult subjects. T2Candida Panel performance in neonates, infants, and pediatric patients had not until now been established. Shortening the hospital stay with the rapid diagnosis by almost nine days would lead to a cost savings of approximately USD 26,887. The T2Candida Panel is able to identify Candida albicans and/or Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata and/or Candida krusei using the T2Dx instrument.

Camille Hamula, PhD, D(ABMM), assistant director, microbiology and assistant professor, pathology, Mount Sinai Hospital (New York, NY, USA) and lead investigator of the study said, “Fast and accurate results have been a challenge to obtain in pediatric patients suspected of sepsis due to the volume of blood required by current diagnostic procedures. This new loading procedure maintains the high accuracy and fast results of the T2Candida Panel, but with lower sample volume, which could have an important impact on the lives of young patients at risk of sepsis.” The study was presented at the 115th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology held May 30–June 2, 2015, in New Orleans (LA, USA).

Related Links:
T2 Biosystems 
US Food and Drug Administration 
Mount Sinai Hospital