MinION sequencing to identify microbes in diabetic foot bone infections
Evaluation of a New Diagnostic Tool (MinION) for Identifying Microorganisms in the Foot Wounds of Patients Living With Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis (DFOM)
This study will test a rapid MinION DNA sequencing method to identify bacteria, fungi, and resistance genes in infected diabetic foot wounds and compare the results with standard culture.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 43 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nîmes, Gard) |
| Trial ID | NCT07391995 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will collect wound (and bone when available) samples from people with diabetic foot osteomyelitis at Nîmes University Hospital and perform real-time metagenomic sequencing using Oxford Nanopore's MinION alongside routine microbiological cultures. The MinION workflow can detect microbial genomes and predict antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in about four hours, while conventional culture methods typically take much longer. The study will compare species diversity, detection rates, and resistance/virulence profiles between the two methods to determine the additional diagnostic information provided by MinION. This is an observational comparison designed to inform potential future personalized management strategies rather than to test a therapeutic intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults with diabetes who have infected foot ulcers and suspected or confirmed diabetic foot osteomyelitis who can attend Nîmes University Hospital for wound/bone sampling.
Not a fit: Patients without infected diabetic foot ulcers or osteomyelitis, those unable to provide suitable wound samples, already on definitive targeted therapy, or unable to attend the study site are unlikely to benefit from this diagnostic comparison.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, rapid sequencing could let clinicians identify causative microbes and resistance patterns within hours to guide more targeted antibiotic choices and reduce delays in care.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier small studies using MinION and other rapid metagenomic platforms have shown promise in quickly detecting diverse pathogens and resistance genes, but larger clinical validation is still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * N/A Exclusion Criteria: * N/A
Where this trial is running
Nîmes, Gard
- Nîmes University Hospital — Nîmes, Gard, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Adeline Dubois, Dr. — Nîmes University Hospital
- Study coordinator: Madjid MORSLI, Dr.
- Email: madjid.morsli@chu-nimes.fr
- Phone: +334 66 68 31 17
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.