Clinical Research Directory

Delafloxacin Plasma and Tissue Concentration in Patients With Skin, Soft Tissue, and Bone and Joint Infections.

The goal of this observational study is to measure how well the antibiotic delafloxacin penetrates into the blood and various body tissues in adult patients over 18 years old. Specifically, this study focuses on patients who are receiving the drug to treat bacterial infections and are undergoing surgery for post-sternotomy wound infections, mediastinitis, or infected prosthetic joints . The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the concentration of delafloxacin in the blood plasma? * What is the concentration of delafloxacin in different body tissues, including soft tissue, tissue around a prosthetic implant, joint fluid (synovial fluid), and bone ? * How does the concentration of the drug in the blood compare to its concentration in the tissues? * Do patient factors such as age, body weight, and kidney function affect the drug's levels in the body? Participants will: * Continue to receive delafloxacin (300mg intravenously every 12 hours) as prescribed by their treating physician for their infection. * Allow researchers to draw 5 peripheral blood samples (about 10 mL total) at specific times (15 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, 5-7 hours, and 11 hours) after the end of a single delafloxacin infusion. * Allow researchers to collect small amounts of tissue and joint fluid for testing during their already planned surgical procedure.

Infrared Thermography for Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Infections

This is a pilot proof of feasibility study to explore the efficacy of High Resolution Infrared Thermographic Imaging (HRTI) to assist with the detection of musculoskeletal infections in children. In HRTI, a sensitive thermal camera is used to capture the temperature profile of the suspected infected body region in the form of images. In this study, a 10-second video will be recorded to allow dynamic monitoring. The resulting video will be processed and interpreted to determine whether there is a musculoskeletal infection. Bone, joint and soft tissue infections can be caused by bacteria which can enter the body through accidental injuries, or because of surgery or implants. Once in the body, they circulate through the bloodstream until they reach a bone, joint, or muscle, multiply and cause infection. These conditions can cause significant complications in children and adults and can even result in death if untreated. Infections of the bone, called osteomyelitis can inhibit bone growth in children. As a result, children who have suffered from osteomyelitis may require extensive treatment later in childhood. While osteomyelitis accounts for only 1% of childhood hospital admissions, its incidence in children has increased in recent decades. This is associated with an increase in the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA. Infections of the joint, called septic arthritis, is an emergency condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Long delays in diagnosis and surgical drainage of the joint may lead to irreversible damage to the cartilage and bone destruction. There is currently a need for improved technologies to screen for and monitor bone, joint, and soft tissue infections. Plain radiographs appear normal in the first 7 to 10 days of osteomyelitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive modality for diagnosing osteomyelitis. However, MRI scans are costly their accessibility is limited, plus the scan can take 30 minutes to perform. As the child needs to be still during the scan, sedation is required. Infrared thermal imaging is a harmless, cost effective and rapid scanning method that has proven industrial applications such as condition monitoring of machineries and fault findings. There has also been extensive interest in utilising and this technology for medical diagnosis and monitoring. This study builds on our earlier work that used HRTI to detect inflammation in the abdomen in infants. This technology may allow timelier and more cost-effective diagnosis of the condition. Sheffield Children's Hospital and Sheffield Hallam University collaborate in conducting the study. The study will involve recruiting 30 patients at Sheffield Children's Hospital with suspected infection of either bone, joint or soft tissue. They will have their HRTI recorded and processed to follow up the study's research questions. The findings from the study will not alter the routine medical treatments of the patients and participation is voluntary.