PrecisionBIOME® for
Podiatry and Wound Care
PrecisionBIOME® for Podiatry and Wound Care
It is inevitable that all wounds get contaminated by microbes, but in some cases, infection will develop leading to symptoms such as pus, pain, swelling, fever, or a chronic wound where the infected site does not heal or heals and recurs. Knowing exactly which infectious agents (or pathogens) are responsible can greatly aid doctors in designing targeted, more successful treatments that speed up recovery and promote faster healing.
With PrecisionBIOME®, the causative agents of infection whether bacteria or fungi can be accurately and comprehensively identified, including hard-to-culture species. Antimicrobial resistance genes are also identified within the same test, so healthcare providers can easily identify susceptibilities and choose the right treatment for good antibiotic stewardship.
Results are reported within 72 hours, so personalized treatments can be designed and quickly implemented to target infectious agents. This leads to successful, more effective treatments with a lower rate of recurrence
PrecisionBIOME® can be used to identify the underlying pathogens behind conditions such as:
Diabetic foot ulcers can easily develop in diabetic patients. The slightest injury, such as blisters or cuts, can develop into an ulcer. If left untreated or unresolved, the consequences can be very serious to the patient including loss of a limb or multiple amputations.
Osteomyelitis is a rare but serious condition that occurs when an open wound or surgery exposes the bone to infection. This is often the case in diabetic patients who frequently develop foot ulcers. When the infection is unresolved and progresses, it may affect the bones of the foot and cause more serious complications.
Fungal nails (tinea unguium) are a common toenail infection that is caused by fungal organisms such as Trichophyton (dermatophytes), Candida (yeasts), and Fusarium (hyphomycetes) species. The presence of these pathogens often leads to thickening and detachment of the nail plate which can also turn white, black, or yellow. The condition can easily become chronic, with a recurrence rate of 10-50%.
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection that develops between the toes, causing the skin to become dry, red, and flaky. It can easily spread from person to person. Although caused by fungal microorganisms, other opportunistic pathogens e.g., bacteria may penetrate and worsen the symptoms.
How PrecisionBIOME® Compares to Current Diagnostics Standards
| PrecisionBIOME® | PCR Panels | Culture Tests |
|---|---|---|
Detects all microbes present in the specimen
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Limited to the number of targets in the test
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<1% of all microbes can be cultured
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Specimens can be stored and shipped at ambient temperature, stable for up to a month
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Requires cold storage and immediate shipment to a lab facility after collection
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️Identifies aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi, and antibiotic resistance all in one test
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Offers limited data on several microbes and antibiotic resistance genes
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Multiple tests required
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Microbial quantification to ID cause of infection
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Lack of microbial ranking
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Results available in 72 hours or less
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Bacterial culture and susceptibilities
Fungal cultures take 4 to 6 weeks
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What Podiatrists and Wound Care Specialists Say
Dr. J. Kleis, Podiatrist, Costa Mesa, CA
I love the PrecisionBIOME service and test results are amazing! It is such a valuable service and greatly appreciated by myself and my patients!
Dr. Lydia Yoo, Podiatrist, Charleston, WV
It’s wonderful to review the PrecisionBIOME® report because the test is refocusing our thinking about surface infection, multi-species bacterial infections, and also unexpected antibiotic resistances.
Dr. R. Carrillo, Wound Care Specialist, Temecula, CA
PrecisionBIOME® Podiatry Case Studies
Case 1
A female patient suffering from erythema (skin rash) in the left plantar (foot) area for over a year sought medical attention from a specialist, who performed the PrecisionBIOME® Microbial test.
The test revealed the presence of a poly-microbial infection with susceptibilities for all detected pathogens. Based on test results, Clindamycin was chosen to treat the condition and in only 10 days, the rash cleared with no symptom recurrence
Case 2
A male patient with onychomycosis in several toenails refused traditional antifungal therapy.
PrecisionBIOME® testing identified the organisms causing the fungal infection and the patient was successfully treated with a soaking treatment specific to those organisms. The patient was very happy to see progress in just a few months and prefers knowing that the medications prescribed are targeted specifically to what he has.
Disclaimers
Test development and performance characteristics were as determined by Pangea Laboratory, LLC.
Detection of most commonly acquired resistance genes and mutations that confer resistance to the different antibiotic classes including Carbapenems, Cephalosporins, Penicillins, Aminoglycosides, Fluoroquinolones, Macrolides, Glycopeptides, Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides, and Rifamycins