How sepsis affects the risk of dying in the hospital
Sepsis Mortality in Hospitals: a Quality Indicator in Acute Care Settings
University of Calabria · NCT07022041
This project will test whether measuring blood plasma conductivity and dielectric constant with microwave probes can help detect severe infections in adult hospitalized patients with sepsis or related cardiac infections.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Calabria (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Cosenza) |
| Trial ID | NCT07022041 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will enroll adults admitted to a cardiology service, including patients with sepsis, nosocomial infection, myocarditis/endocarditis/pericarditis, and cardiology patients without infection as controls. Blood plasma conductivity and dielectric constant will be measured using microwave probes previously validated for non-invasive glucose monitoring, and signals will be captured with an Anritsu VectorStar vector network analyzer. The measured biophysical parameters will be compared between infected and non-infected patients to identify patterns associated with severe infection. The aim is to identify novel, reliable parameters that could supplement existing clinical scores such as SIRS and SOFA for earlier detection of severe infections.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older hospitalized in the cardiology unit who can give written informed consent, including those with sepsis, nosocomial infections, or cardiac infections, as well as cardiology patients without infection for the control group.
Not a fit: Patients with severe chronic conditions (for example autoimmune disease, renal or hepatic failure), active cancer, immunodeficiency, or those taking corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants, and anyone unable to give informed consent are excluded and may not benefit from the measurements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an earlier, noninvasive way to detect severe infections so treatment can start sooner and hospital deaths might be reduced.
How similar studies have performed: Microwave-based measurements have been validated for noninvasive glucose monitoring, but applying plasma conductivity and dielectric properties to detect sepsis is a novel approach that has not yet been widely proven.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Cardiology patients without documented infection (Control Group) * Patients with sepsis * Patients with nosocomial infection * Patients with myocarditis, endocarditis, or pericarditis * Ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with severe or chronic medical conditions that may interfere with study results, such as autoimmune diseases, renal or hepatic failure * Patients taking medications that could affect the measured biophysical parameters, such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants * Patients with cancer * Patients with diseases involving the immune system (e.g., lymphomas, leukemias) * Patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies (e.g., HIV) * Patients who are unable to read and sign the informed consent form
Where this trial is running
Cosenza
- ''Annunziata'' Hospital — Cosenza, Italy (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Antonio Curcio, Medicine
- Email: antonio.curcio.cardio@unical.it
- Phone: +390984681877
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Sepsis