Rapid Detection of Sepsis using CESDA: the Caenorhabditis elegans Sepsis Detection Assay

INTRODUCTION: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a biological sensor to detect the urine of sepsis patients (CESDA assay).

METHODS: C. elegans was aliquoted onto the center of assay plates and allowed to migrate towards sepsis (T) or control (C) urine samples spotted on the same plate. The number of worms found in either (T) or (C) was scored at 10-minute intervals over a 60-minute period.

RESULTS: The worms were able to identify the urine (<48 hours) of sepsis patients rapidly within 20 minutes (AUROC=0.67, p=0.012) and infection within 40 minutes (AUROC=0.80, p=0.016).

CONCLUSIONS: CESDA could be further explored for sepsis diagnosis.