6th August 2025

Breakthrough in bacterial sepsis research could save lives and cut NHS costs

This article originally featured on Health and Care Research Wales.

Researchers, funded by the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty, have successfully identified biomarkers in both the host and bacteria that could help diagnose sepsis early and potentially save lives and cut NHS costs.

Bacterial sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when an infection triggers a dangerous immune response, often leading to organ failure. One of the main culprits behind bacterial sepsis is E. coli, which can enter the bloodstream and cause severe illness. Early identification of patients at risk of sepsis is crucial for timely treatment and better outcomes.

In 2018, Wales faced a particularly high rate of E. coli within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, and Professor Thomas Wilkinson, Professor of Barrier Immunity and Infectious Disease at Swansea University, supervised a Health PhD Studentship Scheme funded by the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty, aimed at understanding why some strains of E. coli were more likely to cause severe infections than others.

The study, conducted in collaboration with Swansea University and Glangwili General Hospital, Carmarthen, aimed to find biomarkers that could predict which E. coli strains might lead to blood poisoning.

The study team collected 170 E. coli samples from patients at Hywel Dda University Health Board, which had a high incidence of E. coli bacteraemia. These samples were linked to patient data, including the source of infection and whether sepsis had developed.

By analysing the bacteria’s genetic makeup and their ability to cause an immune response, the team identified specific genes that helped some E. coli strains survive in human blood and avoid being destroyed by the immune system.

They found that E. coli from the abdomen expressed different adhesins – proteins found on the surface of bacteria that enable them to attach to specific surfaces – compared to those from the urinary tract.

The team also discovered that immune responses to the bacteria varied depending on how well the bacteria could survive in the bloodstream. For example, strains that were more resistant triggered a stronger immune reaction, sending out more chemical signals, such as IL-6 and CCL20, that help the body fight infection. This information could help doctors predict the severity of the infection and choose the best treatment.

Professor Wilkinson said: “The research identified key genetic markers that could eventually lead to tests for early sepsis diagnosis, which does not have to cost the NHS money if combined with established technologies. These breakthroughs have the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the costs of delayed diagnosis, helping to prevent unnecessary deaths and hospitalisations.”