Collection of surplus samples to test new meropenem assay
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to measure meropenem concentrations in surplus patient plasma samples and surplus exhaled breath condensate from ventilator traps
IRAS ID
316592
Contact name
Jonathan Sandoe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Antibiotic resistant infections are becoming more common and antibiotics are becoming less and less effective. Antibiotic resistant bacteria are able to survive the action of antibiotics, resulting in treatment failures. It is the use of antibiotics that drives microbes to become resistant. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to higher amounts of resistant antibiotic infections. Antibiotics can be measured in the body and the results used improve antibiotic treatment. This is called therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). TDM may reducing the risk of resistance and harmful effects, whilst giving the best outcome to the patient possible. TDM allows doctors to prescribe treatment according to the needs of each individual patient.
Meropenem is an important antibiotic used in hospital and is reserved for those who are most unwell. Meropenem TDM is not part of routine clinical care as an available test has not been developed. Rather, patients receive a standard meropenem dose instead of a personalised dose. This project will see if a new test we have developed can quickly and accurately measure the amount of meropenem in patient samples.
Leftover blood samples will be taken from patients being treated with meropenem, so that that no extra blood samples are taken from patients. Meropenem concentrations will then be measured in the laboratory.
We will also collect samples from wastewater traps in ventilator machines from people on intensive care who are being treated with meropenem. These samples are usually thrown away, we will try to measure meropenem here as this could help reduce blood sampling in the future.
This study will take place at NHS Trust Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the University of Leeds. Sample collection will take place at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and meropenem measurement will take place at the University of Leeds.REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1402
Date of REC Opinion
1 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion