NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nanosphere, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSPH), a company enhancing medicine through targeted molecular diagnostics, announced that data from three outcomes studies demonstrating the clinical and economic impact of the Verigene® Gram-Positive Blood Culture Nucleic Acid Test (BC-GP) for rapid sepsis diagnostic testing were presented yesterday at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) held in Washington, DC this week.
Each of the three outcomes studies presented showed that Verigene BC-GP, when paired with active antimicrobial stewardship program involvement, made a significant impact on patient care. All studies reported a reduction in time to optimal antimicrobial therapy, with two studies reporting an average decrease of over 20 hours. Two of these studies demonstrated an average intensive-care unit (ICU) length-of-stay (LOS) reduction of at least 2.5 days. One study demonstrated a 3 month net cost savings of $153,000 by implementing Verigene BC-GP, leading the authors to forecast a savings of $612,000 for the full year. Settings included two large teaching institutions and a non-teaching community hospital.
"The data presented this week demonstrates the tangible impact Verigene is having on patient outcomes and healthcare costs in hospitals of all sizes," said Michael McGarrity, Nanosphere's president and chief executive officer. "In an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, the ability of our targeted multiplex tests to facilitate faster and more accurate diagnosis plays an important role in ensuring that clinicians can provide the best possible care to their critically ill patients as quickly as possible."
Studies presented at ICAAC included:
- Utilization of a DNA Hybridization-Based, Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Test for Faster Bacterial Identification and Antimicrobial Optimization in Bacteremic Patients—In this outcomes study, infectious disease pharmacy communication of Verigene BC-GP results led to faster optimization of antimicrobial therapy by nearly 57 hours over conventional culture techniques. The study also demonstrated a trend toward reduction in 30 day mortality by nearly 6%. The study was conducted at Hahnemann University Hospital and Drexel University College of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA) and led by T.E. Bias.
- Impact of Integrating the Nanosphere Verigene Gram-Positive Blood Culture (BC-GP) Test with Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Non-Teaching Community Hospital —In this outcomes study performed at a 304-bed non-teaching hospital, implementation of Verigene BC-GP involved the clinical pharmacy, who contacted the attending physician if a change in therapy was recommended based on a Verigene BC-GP result. The mean time to optimal antimicrobial regimen was reduced by 21 hours. The mean hospital LOS decreased by 1.3 days and ICU LOS by 3.5 days, leading to an estimated annual net savings of $612,000. The study was conducted at Blount Memorial Hospital (Maryville, TN) and led by B. Crane.
- Outcomes Utilizing Pharmacist Intervention and Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Technology (RMDT) in Patients with Gram-Positive Bloodstream Infections (BSI)—This outcomes study found that pharmacist intervention coupled with rapid diagnostic testing performed using Verigene BC-GP decreased time to initiation of optimal antimicrobial therapy by 17 hours, which led to an average decrease in ICU LOS by 2.5 days. The study was conducted at Froedtert Hospital (Milwaukee, WI) and led by S.L. Revolinski.
September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Sepsis, a life-threatening disease commonly complicated by antimicrobial resistance, is responsible for 1.6 million hospitalizations and nearly 200,000 deaths per year in the U.S., costing the U.S. healthcare system more than $20 billion per year. Risk of death for sepsis patients increases by 7.6% for each hour appropriate treatment is delayed. As a result, rapid and accurate identification of infection-causing bacteria and their resistance to commonly used antibiotics is the first step toward ensuring that patients receive the right therapy at the right time.
About the Verigene® System
The Verigene System uses Nanosphere's core proprietary gold nanoparticle chemistry to offer highly sensitive, highly specific molecular diagnostic results through low-cost multiplexing. The Verigene System rapidly and accurately detects infectious pathogens and drug resistance markers by targeting conserved genetic regions of a bacterium or virus. Currently, the multiplexed Verigene assays target infections of the bloodstream, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. The information gathered from Verigene test results enables clinicians to make informed patient treatment decisions more quickly, which may result in improved patient outcomes, reduced costs, optimized antibiotic therapy, and reduced spread of antibiotic resistance.
About Nanosphere, Inc.
Nanosphere is enhancing medicine through targeted molecular diagnostics that result in earlier disease detection, optimal patient treatment and improved healthcare economics. The Company's versatile technology platform, the Verigene® System, enables clinicians to rapidly detect the most complex, costly and deadly infectious diseases through a low cost and simple-to-use multiplexed diagnostic test. The combination of this innovative technology and Nanosphere's customer-driven solutions keeps commitment to the patient at the forefront of its business. Nanosphere is based in Northbrook, IL. Additional information is available at http://www.nanosphere.us.