PathoSept Project

Development of a modular diagnostic system for the fast identification of pathogens and antibiotic resistance in life-threatening nosocomial infections

Today, multiresistant pathogens are one of the biggest health-related threats. In the PathoSept project, genetic and phenotypic diagnostic methods are combined in a way that enables a targeted individual therapy of nosocomial infections within several hours. Thus, mortality and morbidity caused by a delayed individual therapeutic approach will be highly reduced.

The PathoSept system comprises several innovative modules: pathogen separation from clinical samples, identification, a quick cultivation step and automated growth monitoring for the fast detection of antibiotic resistance. The complete diagnostic system will be designed with regards to a maximum ease-of-use and user-friendliness. 

As a partner in this joint project, Carpegen develops highly sensitive qPCR assays for the specific molecular identification of the selected nosocomial pathogens.

As a winning project of the Lead Market Competition Lifesciences.NRW, PathoSept was funded by the state of North-Rhine Westphalia with support of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD – or EFRE in German) 2014-2020.

Partner

• Fraunhofer Institut für angewandte Informationstechnik, Sankt Augustin
• University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen
• University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
• Carpegen GmbH, Münster
• MERLIN Diagnostika, Bornheim
• Jüke, Altenberge