Clinical trial NCT04571801: Optimization of Sepsis Therapy Based on Patient-specific Digital Precision Diagnostics
Official title: Optimization of Sepsis Therapy Based on Patient-specific Digital Precision Diagnostics
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sepsis
Septic Shock
Keywords: Sepsis
Bacteremia
Blood culture
Next generation sequencing
Digital precision diagnostics
Desirability of outcome ranking / response adjusted for duration of antibiotic risk (DOOR/RADAR) score
Lead sponsor: University Hospital, Essen
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Noscendo GmbH, Germany
name: Health Economics and Health Care Management, Bielefeld University
name: Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg
name: Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials (KKS), University of Heidelberg
name: Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen
name: Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital
name: Department of Anesthesiology, Heidelberg University Hospital
name: AOK Rheinland/Hamburg
name: Barmer Health Insurance, Germany
name: Techniker Health Insurance, Germany
First posted: 2020-10-01
Enrollment: 410
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Arm 1: Standard diagnostics (Microbial diagnostics by means of standard culture methods + optional consultation of experts in the field of infectious diseases) within the first 72 h after diagnosis

Arm 2: Standard diagnostics + NGS (Microbial diagnostics using standard culture methods + Next Generation Sequencing + optional consultation of experts in the field of infectious diseases) within the first 72 h after diagnosis
Primary purpose: DIAGNOSTIC

Brief summary: Sepsis is triggered by an infection and represents one of the greatest challenges of modern intensive care medicine. With regard to a targeted antimicrobial treatment strategy, the earliest possible pathogen detection is of crucial importance. Until now, culture-based detection methods represent the diagnostic gold standard, although they are characterized by numerous limitations. Culture-independent molecular diagnostic procedures may represent a promising alternative. In particular, the concept of plasmatic detection of circulating, free DNA employing next-generation sequencing (NGS) has shown to be suitable for the detection of disease-causing pathogens in patients with bloodstream infections.

The DigiSep-Trial is a randomized, controlled, interventional, multicenter trial to characterize the effect of the combination of NGS-based digital precision diagnostics, standard-of-care microbiological analyses and optional expert exchanges compared to solely standard-of-care microbiological analyses in the clinical picture of sepsis / septic shock. The study examines in 410 patients (n = 205 per arm) with sepsis / septic shock whether the so-called DOOR-RADAR (Desirability of Outcome Ranking / Response Adjusted for Duration of Antibiotic Risk) score (representing a combined endpoint including the criteria (1) inpatient admission time, (2) consumption of antibiotics, (3) mortality and (4) acute renal failure (ARF)) can be significantly improved, by application of an additional NGS-based diagnostic concept. We also aim to investigate whether the new diagnostic procedure is cost-effective. It is postulated that the inpatient admission time, mortality rate, incidence of ARF, the duration of antimicrobial therapy as well as the costs of complications and outpatient aftercare can be reduced. Moreover, a significant improvement in the quality of life (QoL) of the affected patients can be expected.

Extensive preparatory work suggests that NGS-based diagnostics have higher specificity and sensitivity compared to standard-of-care microbiological analyses for detecting bloodstream infections. This preliminary work for the DigiSep-Trial with the help of an interventional study design provides the optimal basis to establish this new concept as part of the national standard based on the best possible evidence.

Detailed description: Sepsis is a disease which is triggered by an infection and represents one of the greatest challenges of modern intensive care medicine. With regard to targeted anti-microbial therapy, the earliest possible pathogen detection is of crucial importance. Until now, culture-based detection methods represent the gold standard for diagnosis, although numerous limitations characterize these. In this context, culture-independent molecular biological processes are an alternative. In particular, the concept of serum detection of circulating, free DNA employing next-generation sequencing (NGS) seems to represent a promising diagnostic procedure in patients with bloodstream infections. The applicant's extensive preparatory work suggests that NGS-based diagnostics using the SIQ score have higher specificity and sensitivity compared to traditional culture-based methods for detecting bloodstream infections. This preliminary work for the DigiSep trial with the help of interventional study design provides the optimal basis to establish this new concept as part of the national standard based on the best possible evidence. The DigiSep trial is intended to characterize the effect of the combination of digital precision diagnostics, expert exchange and culture-based standard diagnostics compared to a purely culture-based conventional diagnosis in the clinical picture of sepsis / septic shock. The study examines in 410 patients (n = 205 per arm) with sepsis / septic shock whether the so-called DOOR-RADAR score (Desirability of Outcome Ranking / Response Adjusted for Duration of Antibiotic Risk Score) can be significantly improved, by application of the NGS. We also aim to also study whether the new procedure is cost-effective. It is postulated that the inpatient admission time, mortality rate, incidence of acute renal failure (ARF), the duration of anti-microbial therapy as well as the costs of complications and outpatient aftercare can be reduced. Also, a significant improvement in the quality of life of the affected patients can be expected.

As part of the study, the essential data is collected once at the time of sepsis (= onset). The culture-based diagnostics include the guideline-oriented collection of 2 blood culture sets (2 x aerobic / 2 x anaerobic) to the onset and three days later. At the same time, serum samples are obtained for NGS-based pathogen diagnostics. Additional sampling for NGS-based diagnostics can be made up to day 14 after onset or whenever the attending physician establishes a clinical indication for the collection of further blood cultures. The aforementioned cultures vs NGS-based pathogen diagnostics are also accompanied by extended immunological monitoring from blood plasma samples as well as an NGS-based transcriptome analysis. The associated sampling takes place at the time of onset, 3, 7 and 14 days after the beginning of sepsis. Routine microbiological findings from other biological samples (e.g. surgical swabs, drainage secretions, tracheal secretions, tissue samples) are included in the evaluation if these were collected three days before or after the extraction of serum samples for NGS-based diagnostics. The clinical data collection is also carried out at the time of sepsis (= onset), 3, 7 and 14 days later, analogous to the above-mentioned sample collection. The final outcome evaluation takes place 28 days (= 28 d) after the onset of sepsis. The study-related burden on the individual study patient includes a total of 17 ml of whole blood for NGS-based diagnostics, the four samples of 7.5 ml of whole blood for immunological monitoring and the four samples of 2.7 ml of whole blood for transcriptome analysis. The minimum total volume, therefore, amounts to the collection of approximately 75 ml of whole blood within the first 14 days after the onset of sepsis. The sampling takes place with the collection of the blood cultures or within the framework of the daily routine blood samples so that no further venous punctures are required here. Infection parameters such as procalcitonin (PCT) are carried out within the framework of daily regular blood collection and therefore, do not require any additional vascular punctures. The same principle applies to the collection of blood cultures which are routinely obtained as part of standard diagnostics in patients with suspected or proven sepsis. The required blood samples of two 40 ml of whole blood (each two sets of 2 x aerobic / 2 x anaerobic = 4 x 10 ml = 40 ml) therefore do not represent any additional burden due to the study. A further additional burden for the patient concerning invasive procedures or examinations is not expected in the study.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients who develop sepsis or septic shock within \< 24 h in accordance with the new sepsis definition (Sepsis-3) in the above-mentioned participating centers and consent to participation in the study will be included.

General inclusion criteria:

* Written consent by the study participant or a legally appointed representative
* Age \>18 years

Sepsis:

* Life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated immune response on the basis of a suspected or proven infection
* Detection of organ dysfunction indicated by SOFA score of ≥ 2 points Alternative:

Change of the quick (q) SOFA score of 2 points as an indication of a sepsis

Or septic shock:

* Persistent hypotension despite adequate volume substitution, which necessitates the use of vasopressors, to maintain an arterial medium pressure of \> 65 mmHg
* Serum lactate \> 2 mmol/l (18 mg/dl)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age \< 18 years
* Refusal to participate in the study
* Probable discharge of the patient from the intensive care unit within the first 72 h of initial study inclusion
* Palliative therapy approach
* Death of the patient is already foreseeable or inevitable at trial inclusion
* Patients who have already been included in the study but require re-admission to the intensive care unit cannot be included a second

Primary outcomes:
measure: Desirability of Outcome Ranking / Response Adjusted for Duration of Antibiotic Risk-Score
timeFrame: 28 days
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Disease severity
timeFrame: at 90 and 180 days
measure: Disease severity
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Degree of organ dysfunction/-failure
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Degree of organ dysfunction/-failure
timeFrame: during 28 days
measure: Degree of organ dysfunction/-failure
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Microbiological outcome
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Microbiological outcome
timeFrame: during 28 days
measure: Health economic outcome
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Health economic outcome
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Economic outcome
timeFrame: at 28, 90, and 180 days
measure: Quality-of-life (QoL) based on VR-36 questionnaire
timeFrame: 90 and 180 days
measure: Quality-of-life (QoL) based on EQ-5D-5L questionnaire
timeFrame: at 0, 90 and 180 days
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Heidelberg
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Heidelberg
state: Baden-Württemberg
city: Heidenheim
country: Germany
facility: Heidenheim Hospital
state: Baden-Württemberg
city: Konstanz
country: Germany
facility: Konstanz Hospital
state: Baden-Württemberg
city: Tübingen
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Tübingen
state: Baden-Württemberg
city: Ulm
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Ulm
state: Baden-Württemberg
city: München
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital TU München
state: Bayern
city: Regensburg
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Regensburg
state: Bayern
city: Würzburg
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Würzburg
state: Bayern
city: Luckau
country: Germany
facility: Klinik Evangelisches Krankenhaus Luckau gGmbH
state: Brandenburg
city: Frankfurt
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Frankfurt
state: Hessen
city: Wiesbaden
country: Germany
facility: Helios Dr. Horst Schmidt Hospital
state: Hessen
city: Rostock
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Rostock
state: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
city: Göttingen
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Göttingen
state: Niedersachsen
city: Hannover
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Hannover (MHH)
state: Niedersachsen
city: Aachen
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Aachen
state: Nordrhein-Westfalen
city: Bielefeld
country: Germany
facility: Klinik Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bethel gGmbH Bielefeld
state: Nordrhein-Westfalen
city: Bonn
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Bonn
state: Nordrhein-Westfalen
city: Düsseldorf
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Düsseldorf
state: Nordrhein-Westfalen
city: Essen
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Essen
state: Nordrhein-Westfalen
city: Köln
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Köln
state: Nordrhein-Westfalen
city: Leipzig
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Leipzig
state: Sachsen
city: Berlin
country: Germany
facility: University Hospital Charité
Study officials:
affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Essen
name: Thorsten Brenner, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Brenner T, Skarabis A, Stevens P, Axnick J, Haug P, Grumaz S, Bruckner T, Luntz S, Witzke O, Pletz MW, Ruprecht TM, Marschall U, Altin S, Greiner W, Berger MM; TIFOnet Critical Care Trials Group. Optimization of sepsis therapy based on patient-specific digital precision diagnostics using next generation sequencing (DigiSep-Trial)-study protocol for a randomized, controlled, interventional, open-label, multicenter trial. Trials. 2021 Oct 18;22(1):714. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05667-x.