Laboratory observational Ex-Vivo study to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of a smart dressing to detect clinically relevant wound infection

ISRCTN ISRCTN13825483
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13825483
Secondary identifying numbers CH/2016/6025
Submission date
24/10/2016
Registration date
09/12/2016
Last edited
17/08/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Burn wound infections are difficult to diagnose, but may become serious if they are not treated quickly. To diagnose an infection, dressings need to be removed from the wound, which may slow the healing process. A new dressing Smartwound™ may help to diagnose wound infection without needing to remove the dressing. The Smartwound™ dressing changes colour in the presence of the infection-causing bacteria. Laboratory studies show that the dressing does change colour in the presence of bacteria, but before it can be used in patients, it needs to be tested with the bacteria found in human wounds. The new Smartwound™ dressing will not be tested on patients in this study. Samples of burn wound fluid, called exudate, which can be taken from wound swabs and used wound dressings when the patients have their dressings removed will be used. Exudate will be gathered from patients with and without wound infection to see whether the dressing changes colour in the presence of the bacteria that cause a wound infection. Dressing changes and swabs are part of the normal care routine for patients with burns. This study aims to test whether the Smartwound™ technology developed to detect infection in a dressing for burn wounds is effective in identifying infection.

Who can participate?
Patients with burn wounds who either have a suspected infection requiring a dressing change and patients with a burn injury with no signs of an infected wound.

What does the study involve?
Old standard dressings are collected from patients along with some samples of the burn wound exudate/biofilm (burn wound fluid) using gauze and two cotton swabs. The samples of exudate are taken from the patients during routine treatment. This may be when they are in theatre or in the treatment area, when the wound is being cleaned. The new Smartwound™ dressing is not being tested on patients. The exudate samples are used to test the Smartwound™ dressing in the laboratory. Some medical information relating to the burn wound is collected. Patients are followed up at 14- 21 days to gain information about antibiotic treatment, dressings, additional medical help and the healing of the burn wound. This is done either at scheduled clinic appointments as part of normal care, or by telephone.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks involved to those participating.

Where is the study run from?
1. Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (UK)
2. Southmead Hospital (UK)
3. Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead (UK)
4. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (UK)

When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2015 to April 2018

Who is funding the study?
Medical Research Council (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Natasha Iles
BSCTUEvident@bsms.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Natasha Iles
Public

Brighton and Sussex Clinical Trials Unit
Room 204 Bevendean House
University of Brighton
Brighton
BN1 9PH
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designMulti-centre prospective ex-vivo diagnostic technology development study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designLaboratory study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet ISRCTN13825483_PIS_30Sep16_V2.2_Parent.pdf
Scientific titleLaboratory observational Ex-Vivo study to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of a smart dressing to detect clinically relevant wound infection
Study acronymEVIDEnT: Ex Vivo Infection DETection
Study objectivesThe aim of this diagnostic accuracy study is to estimate the sensitivity, specificity, for the infection detection ‘smart’ technology.
Ethics approval(s)South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee, 02/09/2016, ref: 16/SW/0238
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedBurn wound infection
InterventionThe old dressing and exudate soaked gauze will be sent to the laboratory at University of Bath to assess the smart wound technology ‘switch-on’ i.e. colour change. A standard swab will be sent for routine hospital microbiology analysis (MC+S) and a clinical assessment of wound infection by observation will be performed. A swab will also be sent to the laboratory at University of Brighton for qPCR testing to determine the levels of bacterial toxins present to validate the technology responsiveness and the clinical definition of would infection. The patient will be followed up by means of a telephone call or face-to-face if they have a routine visit scheduled at 14-21 days for a retrospective confirmation of whether the wound was infected or not.
Intervention typeBiological/Vaccine
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
Phase
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)
Primary outcome measure1. Technology switched on or remained off is measured by observing colour change in the laboratory at baseline
2. Clinically relevant wound infection or no infection is assessed using clinical decisions, taking into account observation of wound, laboratory markers of inflammation and infection, wound and blood microscopy and culture and response to antibiotics at baseline. A follow-up review at 14-21 days will be carried out to confirm retrospectively the wound infection assessment at baseline.
Secondary outcome measuresLevels of bacterial toxins to validate both clinical definition of wound infection and technology switch-on is measured using qPCR at baseline.
Overall study start date01/06/2015
Completion date24/04/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupMixed
SexBoth
Target number of participants322 with suspected infection, and 100 controls (plus 20 with suspected infection, 10 controls for the pilot phase)
Total final enrolment344
Key inclusion criteriaControl group
1. Patients with burns of all types and sizes
2. Any child from 4 weeks up to the age of 16 years/adults up to 100 years
3. >48 hrs after injury but before healing complete
4. Wound dressings intact
5. No signs of wound infection
6. Not currently using antibiotics
7. Consent gained for study

Suspected infection group
1. Patients who present with a suspected burn wound infection as determined by the reference standard.
2. A child/adult with burns
3. Any child from 4 weeks up to the age of 16 years/adults up to 100 years
4. Wound dressings intact
5. Not on antibiotics for longer than 24 hours
6. Consent gained for study
Key exclusion criteriaAll participants:
1. Child < four weeks of age/adults above 100 years
2. Consent not gained for study
3. Adult without mental capacity to consent
4. A child/adult who is on antibiotics for longer than 24 hours
5. No wound dressings
Date of first enrolment13/01/2017
Date of final enrolment26/04/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Paul O'Gorman Building
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8BJ
United Kingdom
Southmead Hospital
Dorian Way
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom
Queen Victoria Hospital
Holtye Road
East Grinstead
RH19 3DZ
United Kingdom
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Research & Innovation
Education & Research Centre
Level 3
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8AE
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04nm1cv11

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Medical Research Council
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date26/04/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in repository
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be stored in a non-publically available repository.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version V2.2 30/09/2016 09/12/2016 No Yes
Participant information sheet version V2.2 30/09/2016 09/12/2016 No Yes
Participant information sheet version V2.2 30/09/2016 09/12/2016 No Yes
Participant information sheet version V2.2 30/09/2016 09/12/2016 No Yes
Preprint results preprint results 23/07/2021 17/08/2021 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN13825483_PIS_30Sep16_V2.2_Parent.pdf
Uploaded 09/12/2016
ISRCTN13825483_PIS_30Sep16_V2.2_Childunder10.pdf
Uploaded 09/12/2016
ISRCTN13825483_PIS_30Sep16_V2.2_Child10-16.pdf
Uploaded 09/12/2016
ISRCTN13825483_PIS_30Sep16_V2.2_Adult.pdf
Uploaded 09/12/2016

Editorial Notes

17/08/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Preprint reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
31/10/2019: Internal review.
22/05/2019: Internal review.
12/05/2017: The recruitment start date has been updated from 26/10/2016 to 13/01/2017