What if a vaccine given to patients before or after they arrive at the hospital could protect them from the lethal superbugs that threaten health care settings?
Healthcare-acquired infections cause more than 90,000 deaths in the United States each year and generate $28 billion to $45 billion in healthcare costs. About one in 31 hospital patients are affected by such infections each day, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That’s the premise behind an experimental vaccine developed by a team led by the University of California (USC) and patented by the university.
Researchers created this vaccine to prevent severe infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens.
A new study shows that a single dose of this vaccine, given to mice in the laboratory, stimulated immune cells in a way similar to “The Incredible Hulk”, the fictional character with superpowers from Marvel comics, providing rapid protection against eight different species of bacteria and fungi.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Brad Spellberg of the USC-affiliated Los Angeles Medical Center, likened this vaccine to an early warning from Homeland Security, noting that everyone should be vigilant, like warning of possible attacks. terrorist.
The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
USC has successfully filed a patent for the experimental vaccine called ExBaq, which could protect vulnerable populations, especially patients in hospitals and medical clinics, from serious infections.
Healthcare-acquired infections cause a significant number of deaths and high costs. Each day, about one in 31 hospital patients are affected by such infections, according to the CDC.
Many of these infections are caused by superbugs, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or Acinetobacter baumannii, which can cause nosocomial infections.
Infections can spread through contaminated surfaces or equipment, such as catheters or ventilators, or through person-to-person contact.
The risk of infections is greatest in intensive care units, where patients can develop surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Currently, there are no licensed vaccines to prevent serious antibiotic-resistant infections, and even if there were, multiple vaccines would need to be used at the same time to protect against the full range of antibiotic-resistant microbes that cause acquired infections in the respiratory system. health.
The experimental vaccine developed by USC uses a different approach, stimulating pre-existing immune cells, called macrophages, to fight pathogens, bacteria and fungi. This vaccine was tested on mice and had a significant effect in protecting against invasive infections.
ExBaq LLC, a start-up formed to develop this vaccine, is in talks with potential pharmaceutical partners for its human testing. The team is working with the FDA to get guidance on preclinical studies and to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application in 2024. The first clinical trial should determine the right dose to trigger an effective immune response in humans.
Source: 360medical.ro
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2023-10-06 20:50:58
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