Effects of Critical Illness on the Innate Immune System
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the effects of Critical Illness on the Innate Immune System
IRAS ID
226374
Contact name
John Simpson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Joint Research Office
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
1 in 5 patients in intensive care units (ICU) develop an infection; those who develop an infection have double the mortality rate of those who do not. Caring for critically ill people is challenging, it is difficult to identify an infection and understandably doctors tend to treat with a wider range of antibiotics for longer periods. We know however, that an increasing number of bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This leaves us with an urgent need to find alternative treatments.
There are two main reasons why critically ill patients are more likely to develop an infection. Firstly, medical interventions essential to support their recovery - such as the ventilators that help them to breathe – increase the risk of infection. Secondly, the innate immune system, the body’s initial defence against infection, does not work as well in the critically ill. Innate immunity requires the coordination of several components including the function of white blood cells and of the cells that line the inside of blood vessels (endothelial cells). The reasons why innate immunity often fails in critically ill patients are not understood.
The function of white blood cells during critical illness, and the interaction between different types of white blood cell and the cells lining blood vessels has yet to be investigated during infection.
This study aims to investigate the innate immune system in critically ill people with an emphasis on white blood cells and the cells lining blood vessels. This should suggest the design of new therapies that could act as an alternative to antibiotics.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NE/0036
Date of REC Opinion
22 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion