Clinical Study Targets Rapid Detection of Drug-Resistant Superbugs

The TRACE-CPE study, a collaboration between the Fleming Initiative and diagnostics firm Cepheid, is currently underway at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Researchers are tracking how faster, molecular-based screening impacts clinical workflows, hospital transmission rates, and patient outcomes. CPE bacteria are classified by the World Health Organization as a critical-priority pathogen, as they resist last-resort antibiotics and can cause severe outbreaks if left undetected.

Dr. Jonathan Otter, who leads the research, noted that the initiative seeks to translate scientific evidence into frontline practice. Beyond clinical results, the study will assess the economic impact on hospital operations, including the costs associated with ward closures and disrupted elective care. Findings from the trial are expected to guide future NHS policy on the large-scale deployment of rapid diagnostics, offering a potential template for global health systems facing similar antimicrobial resistance challenges.