June 28, 2012 – ECI Biotech (ECI), has just received IRB approval from a leading research hospital in the Midwest and a notice of grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at National Institute of Health (NIH), to perform clinical testing on ECI’s rapid in vitro diagnostic for periprosthetic joint infections (Phase I SBIR award,1 R43 AI100502-01, $298,291).
Infections at the surgical site can lead to a complex network of bacteria called a biofilm. These bacteria form a matrix, secreting sugar chains (exopolysaccharides) that tightly bind the biofilm to the prosthetic and surrounding tissues. This type of infection is common in knee and hip replacements and is especially serious due to anti microbial resistance in a biofilm. Since bacteria in a biofilm are strongly adhered to the surface, they are undetectable in the synovial fluid by culture methods making diagnosis nearly impossible.
Dr. Mitch Sanders, CEO and principal investigator (PI) on the grant, explains that, “infection can be a very serious complication for people with knee and hip replacements. With an accurate diagnostic, clinicians will be able to determine whether the knee or hip requires a revision. Without a sensitive and rapid diagnostic for infection, patients will continue to be put through painful, time-consuming and possibly unnecessary revision surgeries”.
Currently, knee or hip replacement systems have about a 15% chance of surgical revision. This study will test the accuracy of ECI’s rapid diagnostic for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The success of this study could ultimately improve the quality of care by detecting infection early and reducing the serious complications of an infection and/or reduce the number of unwarranted revisions.
About ECI Biotech
Founded in 1998, ECI Biotech is a developer of affordable diagnostic sensors trademarked as ExpressDetect®. ECI has developed technology targeted at prognosing chronic and acute wound infections, which includes a dressing sensor and a rapid point of care diagnostic. ECI has established partnerships with leading medical device and consumer product companies to bring innovative discoveries to market on a global scale. ECI has a dominant patent portfolio that includes diagnostics, therapeutics, and advanced molecular technologies.
If you’re interested in partnering or would like to learn more about ECI Biotech, visit www.ecibiotech.com, or contact Mitch Sanders at Mitch.Sanders@ECIBiotech.com. One can learn more about ECI’s technology and biofilms from this video http://tinyurl.com/d9nxtbp.