Becker's Hospital Review

48 Executive Briefing By providing test results more quickly, sick patients can get treated sooner and the use of unnecessary antifungals can be substantially reduced by ensuring that negative patients are not treated with drugs they do not need. "The value of the negative test result, where the negative predictive value is over 99 percent, is that you know not to put a patient on the drug because you know they are not likely to need it," said Mr. McDonough. This can prevent the rise of superbugs and help hospitals achieve cost savings. T2 Biosystems also offers the T2Bacteria Panel, which is currently CE marked and available in Europe and has been submitted for FDA clearance for clinical use in the U.S. T2Bacteria is currently available for research use only in the U.S. The test identifies six of the most deadly and prevalent bacteria species, and will provide species-specific information within hours from a blood sample. "In our FDA clinical trial for the T2Bacteria Panel there were 102 patients with known bacterial infections, of which blood culture detected 39 and T2 detected 98. Additionally, the average time to species identification with blood culture was over 70 hours where the average time to result for T2 was just over five hours," said Mr. McDonough. T2Bacteria has the potential to reduce patient mortality rates while also saving hospitals about $25,000 per patient due to spending less time in the hospital and the intensive care unit. Sepsis management improvement success stories Today, hospitals and health systems across the country are focused on sepsis management to improve patients' health and saves lives while reducing the use of unnecessary drugs, thereby relieving cost pressure. Many provider organizations who are using T2 Biosystems' tests are realizing the clinical and financial benefits of treating this patient population more effectively. Henry Ford Health System Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System implemented T2MR, a diagnostic detection method utilizing miniaturized magnetic resonance technology, and the T2Candida Panel as part of its sepsis protocol and management of Candida. Within six months after implementation, the seven-hospital health system significantly reduced patient length of stay and saved millions of dollars. A statistically powered, independent study of over 150 patients who had Candida infections revealed patients were spending an average of four fewer days in the hospital, and an average of seven fewer days in the intensive care unit. Henry Ford Health System also experienced cost savings after it began using the test. The health system is realizing more than $2.3 million in annual savings by reducing patient length of stay and using fewer drugs to treat infections. Lee Health Like Henry Ford Health System, Lee Health, a four-hospital system based in Fort Myers, Fla., is using the T2Candida Panel to identify patients with Candida infections. The test is allowing the health system to detect the sepsis-causing pathogen sooner, which benefits patients and the organization's finances. After implementing the panel, Lee Health physicians are receiving diagnostic test results much sooner than with a traditional blood culture, which has allowed them to begin targeted treatment in a timelier manner. The implementation of T2Candida is enabling patients to spend an average of seven fewer days in the hospital. Additionally, knowing that patients do not have a Candida infection results in a significant reduction in the use of antifungal drugs, which saves about $200 per patient tested with T2Candida. Huntsville Hospital Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital, a 941-bed hospital that serves as a regional referral center, saw a significant increase in the number of patients who tested positive for Candida after it began using the T2Candida Panel. Since the test has higher sensitivity than a traditional blood culture, the T2Candida Panel identifies infections that can be missed by a blood culture. After implementing the panel, the hospital detected 56 percent more positive Candida patients than with blood cultures, enabling caregivers to provide better patient care and potentially saving lives. Huntsville Hospital also reduced the use of unnecessary medication after it began using the T2Candida Panel. The hospital saved roughly $500 per patient in medication costs due to the reduction in drug therapy. The future of sepsis management Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that kills hundreds of thousands of patients each year in the U.S. However, it can be manageable with early diagnosis and treatment. There are many drugs available to effectively treat sepsis, but physicians must identify the sepsis-causing pathogen in order to know which drug to use. By providing rapid and accurate test results, T2 Biosystems' sepsis solution not only allows physicians to begin effective treatment as early as possible, but it also helps hospitals and health systems reduce costs associated with treatment delay and the use of ineffective drugs. n T2 Biosystems, a leader in the development of innovative diagnostic products for critical unmet needs in healthcare, is dedicated to saving lives and reducing the cost of healthcare by empowering clinicians to effec- tively treat patients faster than ever before. The T2Sepsis Solution™ is a unique approach that combines the standard of care for the management of sepsis patients with T2 Biosystems' products, including the T2Dx® Instrument and T2Candida® Panel, and the T2Bacteria® Panel, which is commercially available in Europe and other countries that accept the CE Mark and available for research use only in the U.S. Powered by the proprietary T2MR® technology, the T2Sepsis Solution is proven to deliver better patient care and greater cost savings. Hospital customer experience has demonstrated faster time to effective treatment, shortened ICU and hospital lengths of stay, reduced use of unnecessary antifungals, and millions of dollars in savings. For more information, please visit www.t2biosystems.com.

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