Point-of-Care Testing in At-Risk Patient Populations: Experiences from a Regional Burn Center
Nam Tran, MD, UC Davis
April 17, 2014 6 pm (Meet and greet with food at 5:30 pm)
Blum Hall B100
Burn injury results in profound alterations to homeostasis. For instance, significant fluid loss occurs immediately following burn injury as the result of systemic inflammation and evaporative water loss. This so-called “burn shock” phase requires massive fluid resuscitation to maintain adequate blood pressure and tissue perfusion. Infections are also common in burn patients. Studies have observed up 97% of patients with >20% total body surface area burns experiencing sepsis over the course of their hospital stay, and about 75% of burn-related deaths being associated with wound infections.
Early recognition of inadequate burn shock resuscitation and sepsis are instrumental to patient survival. Unfortunately central laboratory-based tests are not suitable for rapid-response testing during burn critical care. To this end, burn patients stand to benefit from point-of-care testing (POCT). Defined as “medical testing at or near the site of patient care”, POCT improves patient outcomes by reducing the therapeutic turnaround time (i.e., time from test order to treatment) and facilitating evidence-based practices. Innovative biomarkers of organ dysfunction and molecular pathogen detection methods, when used at the point of care, could accelerate clinical decision-making and improve outcomes in high-risk critically ill burn patients.
Nam Tran, MD, UC Davis
April 17, 2014 6 pm (Meet and greet with food at 5:30 pm)
Blum Hall B100
Burn injury results in profound alterations to homeostasis. For instance, significant fluid loss occurs immediately following burn injury as the result of systemic inflammation and evaporative water loss. This so-called “burn shock” phase requires massive fluid resuscitation to maintain adequate blood pressure and tissue perfusion. Infections are also common in burn patients. Studies have observed up 97% of patients with >20% total body surface area burns experiencing sepsis over the course of their hospital stay, and about 75% of burn-related deaths being associated with wound infections.
Early recognition of inadequate burn shock resuscitation and sepsis are instrumental to patient survival. Unfortunately central laboratory-based tests are not suitable for rapid-response testing during burn critical care. To this end, burn patients stand to benefit from point-of-care testing (POCT). Defined as “medical testing at or near the site of patient care”, POCT improves patient outcomes by reducing the therapeutic turnaround time (i.e., time from test order to treatment) and facilitating evidence-based practices. Innovative biomarkers of organ dysfunction and molecular pathogen detection methods, when used at the point of care, could accelerate clinical decision-making and improve outcomes in high-risk critically ill burn patients.