Scientific breakthrough can protect thousands of "silent killers"

A group of scientists made a scientific breakthrough that illuminates the causes of the infection.

Thousands of people become "silent killers" when an infection, such as sepsis, causes a violent immune response in which the body attacks the cells of its organs.

Current septic testing takes days, sometimes longer. But the new research paves the way for a much faster method of diagnosing the patient, which greatly increases his chances of survival.

Tests in mice and humans have revealed that two molecules produced by immune cells during an infection for a long time, as seen in sepsis.

Researchers at Columbia University have discovered that high levels of microRNAs, which are small parts of the genetic code, could indicate the need for urgent treatment.

High levels of microRNA, miR-221, and miR-222 indicated a weak immune system in patients with sepsis. The researchers also studied microRNAs in 30 patients who had been admitted to the hospital because of sepsis.

It was observed that people with signs of organic insufficiency, when sepsis was not treated, had higher levels of miR-221 and miR-222 in their blood samples .

Researchers believe that a micro-RNA test can help diagnose infected patients, allowing doctors to start administering antibiotics and fluids to control infection more quickly before failure of an organ.

Sepsis kills 44,000 people in Britain and 250,000 in the United States each year, but can be treated early by using intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

In case it is not treated immediately, it can lead to tissue damage and failure of the main organs of the body. Even if the patient has survived, he or she could suffer brain damage or loss of limbs.

The diagnosis is currently based on the evaluation of clinical signs, including elevated temperatures, abnormal heartbeat and respiratory rates.

The most reliable way to confirm a diagnosis is to send a blood sample to the laboratory, where it is tested and exposed to a number of proteins that it is believed to be affected. The results can take up to 3 days.

The new results published in the journal Nature offer the hope of a much faster test.

Source: Daily Mail