HORIZON EUROPE • HEALTH
Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are especially vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Frequent invasive procedures, severe underlying illness and prolonged hospital stays increase the risk of infection. In some European centres, more than 25% of ICU patients develop an infection, and mortality associated with these infections can exceed 30%.
In critically ill patients, extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics before an infection has been microbiologically confirmed, increases selective pressure and contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In OECD and EU/EEA countries, more than 60% of deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance are linked to healthcare-acquired resistant infections.
Current infection-control measures remain essential, but they cannot prevent every ICU-acquired infection. There is therefore a need for rapid, targeted and non-antibiotic approaches that can protect high-risk patients without increasing antimicrobial resistance.
DITRAP is developing a first-in-class, host-directed therapy designed to help prevent Gram-negative infections in intensive care by enhancing patients’ natural ability to clear bacteria and reducing reliance on antibiotics. Combined with AI-driven patient stratification, this approach aims to identify high-risk ICU patients early and enable more targeted preventive treatment.
Enhances patients’ natural ability to clear Gram-negative bacteria, rather than suppressing immunity.
Predicts high-risk ICU patients early enabling preventive treatment
A targeted, preventive approach designed to ease pressure on last-line antibiotics
