Wound Pathogen Molecular Diagnostics

Improving Wound Outcomes with Rapid PCR Pathogen Detection and PharmD-Led Antibiotic Stewardship

Chronic and complex wounds remain a significant clinical and economic burden, affecting over 8 million individuals in the United States. Whether managing diabetic foot ulcers, surgical site infections, or pressure injuries, timely and accurate pathogen identification is critical to optimizing healing and preventing complications such as osteomyelitis, systemic infection, or amputation.

Traditional culture-based methods, while still commonly used, often fail to meet the urgency and complexity of wound management. At CuraPath Dx, we provide a modern alternative: rapid PCR-based wound pathogen testing combined with PharmD-generated antibiotic stewardship reports—delivering clinically actionable results within 24-48 hours.

The Clinical Importance of Timely and Targeted Wound Diagnostics

Delayed or empiric antibiotic treatment in wound care often leads to:

  • Prolonged inflammation and tissue damage
  • Increased risk of hospitalization or re-hospitalization
  • Development of antimicrobial resistance
  • Suboptimal wound healing outcomes

Empiric therapies, while sometimes necessary, can expose patients to unnecessary medications and contribute to resistance—particularly when used in the absence of timely diagnostic data.

Limitations of Conventional Culture

Culture-based wound diagnostics have several inherent limitations:

  • Slow Turnaround: Traditional results typically take 72–96 hours to finalize.
  • Incomplete Detection: Cultures may miss pathogens embedded in biofilms or those present in polymicrobial infections.
  • Reduced Sensitivity: Fastidious or anaerobic organisms often go undetected.
  • Limited Resistance Profiling: Susceptibility testing is delayed and may not capture relevant resistance mechanisms.

In modern wound care, these limitations can delay clinical decision-making and negatively impact patient outcomes.

Our Solution: Rapid Molecular Wound Testing with Pharmacist Support

Our diagnostic platform utilizes multiplex real-time PCR to detect a comprehensive panel of wound pathogens and resistance markers directly from a single swab specimen.

Key Features:

  • Pathogen Coverage: Detection of over bacteria and fungi commonly implicated in wound infections, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., and Candida spp.
  • Resistance Genes: Includes critical markers such as mecA, blaKPC, and vanA/vanB, which help guide effective antibiotic selection.
  • Semi-Quantitative Reporting: Results are stratified by microbial load—High, Moderate, or Low—based on Ct thresholds, supporting clinical interpretation without requiring colony counts.
  • Turnaround Time: Results are delivered electronically within 24-48 hours of specimen receipt, enabling fast clinical action.

PharmD-Led Antibiotic Stewardship Reporting

Every positive result is reviewed by a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) with expertise in infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship. This integrated service includes:

  • Targeted Antibiotic Recommendations based on detected pathogens and resistance markers
  • Identification of Drug-Bug Mismatches, allergy conflicts, and therapeutic duplications
  • Chart-Ready Stewardship Notes to support clinical documentation, care coordination, and audit readiness

This pharmacist review ensures that diagnostic results are not only fast, but also paired with high-level clinical guidance to promote safe, effective, and appropriate therapy.

Benefits for Providers and Healthcare Facilities

Implementing our wound PCR and stewardship solution delivers significant value across multiple domains:

  • Improved Patient Outcomes: Faster access to targeted treatment supports more efficient healing and reduces complications.
  • Streamlined Clinical Workflow: One swab, one comprehensive report—no need for reflex testing or repeat specimens.
  • Enhanced Stewardship Compliance: Aligns with CMS quality programs and institutional initiatives to monitor and manage antimicrobial use.
  • Supports Value-Based Care Models: Reduces hospitalizations and supports efficient care transitions in post-acute and outpatient settings.

Partner with Us

We are committed to delivering timely, clinically relevant diagnostic data that improves patient care and operational efficiency. Our team works closely with providers to ensure seamless onboarding, rapid result reporting, and continuous clinical support.

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