Preventing secondary infections in coronavirus patients
EIT Health-supported start-up, CytaCoat, produces a new antibacterial coating for medical devices, CytaCoat turned to EIT Health’s Investor Network for support,and prevents the kind of secondary bacterial infections that are responsible for many of the deaths from COVID-19.
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CytaCoat has been shown to be effective against streptococcus pneumoniae and inhibits colonisation of all common pathogens causing sepsis and fungal sepsis – thereby reducing the threats created by using a ventilator.
According to existing research, infection with human coronavirus enhances streptococcal adherence to epithelial cells, thereby facilitating bacterial infection. The observed increase in bacterial adherence coincided with virus replication, which increased significantly from day 4-6. According to WHO, most severe cases of COVID-19 occur after approximately one week.
The WHO has found that approximately five percent of COVID-19 patients will require treatment in an intensive care unit treatment, and most of those critically ill will require mechanical ventilation. The ventilation increases the risk of bacterial infection due to colonisation and formation of biofilms on medical devices, such as endotracheal tubes, CVC’s, and urinary indwelling catheters. Dual infections with other respiratory bacterial infections have been found in SARS, MERS and COVID-19 patients, according to the WHO. The most common diagnosis in severe COVID-19 patients is severe pneumonia and a common secondary complication is sepsis.
Broad antibacterial spectrum
The CytaCoat technology has a broad antibacterial spectrum and is very effective against streptococcus pneumoniae: A clinical first-in-human study proved a Log 5.8 reduction in bacterial growth for pathogens present in the nose. CytaCoat also inhibits colonisation of the all common pathogens causing sepsis, including fungal sepsis. If we can prevent the secondary bacterial infections, the patient’s immune system will have more time to fight the coronavirus which will lead to less people dying from COVID-19.
CytaCoat AB, the makers of CytaCoat have sought to meet their funding needs through the EIT Health Investor Network, a programme that brings together investors with the most promising healthcare start-ups.
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