- Bacterial and viral infections are often clinically indistinguishable, leading to inappropriate patient management and antibiotic misuse
- MeMed BV® is the first FDA-cleared host-immune response assay to accurately distinguish between the two in just 15 minutes
PETAH TIKVA, Israel and HAIFA, Israel; April 18, 2023 – MeMed, a leader in the emerging field of advanced host-response technologies, and Schneider Children’s Medical Center, the only comprehensive, tertiary care hospital of its kind in Israel, today announce that clinical data from the independent, prospective Rosetta study, recently published in PLOS One, showed that the MeMed BV test provides an accurate diagnosis of bacterial versus viral infection and reduces Emergency Department (ED) physician error.
The Rosetta study paper is called: Bacterial vs viral etiology of fever: A prospective study of host score for supporting etiologic accuracy of emergency department physicians.
Fever is a common symptom in children presenting to the ED and owing to limitations of real-time decision-making, attending physicians often make presumptive diagnoses. This diagnostic uncertainty can result in sub-optimal patient management, including the precautionary use of antibiotics [1,2]. There is an urgent need for a rapid and accurate test that can assist physicians in distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections, enabling improved diagnosis and reducing the incidence of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
To address the unmet need, MeMed developed the world’s first US FDA-cleared advanced host-response technology that differentiates between bacterial and viral infection in 15 minutes – the MeMed BV test.
The Rosetta study assessed the potential of MeMed BV to impact decision making and antibiotic stewardship in the ED by comparing its performance to physician’s etiological suspicion at patient presentation. The study enrolled 287 participants aged 3 months to 18 years, with respiratory tract infection or fever without source, in a tertiary care pediatric ED.
MeMed BV showed high diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 96%, sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 92%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. Furthermore, comparing physician suspicion to MeMed BV and to the reference standard, and assuming full adoption, the study found that MeMed BV has the potential to improve physician diagnosis and reduce errors by around two-fold, from 16% to 8%.
Meirav Mor MD, Head of Hospital Infection Control and Senior ED Physician at Schneider Children's Medical Center, commented: “At Schneider, we’re dedicated to providing world-class pediatric care. In the Rosetta study, we assessed the impact of incorporating MeMed BV alongside our standard of care for children and discovered its significant potential for enhancing patient outcomes while also addressing the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.”
Dr. Eran Eden, MeMed’s CEO and co-founder, added: “We’re delighted to present the latest findings from the Rosetta study, focused on pediatric patients that present to the emergency room with fever without a source or respiratory tract infections. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that underscores MeMed BV's reliability across diverse populations. This outcome serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment - to delivering tremendous clinical results, and we eagerly anticipate publishing additional in due course, exploring the use of MeMed BV in different patient populations.”
About MeMed
At MeMed, our mission is to translate the immune system’s complex signals into simple insights that transform the way diseases are diagnosed and treated, profoundly benefiting patients and society.
Follow and connect with MeMed via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
MeMed Contacts:
Will Harris, VP Marketing, MeMed
pr@me-med.com
Media relations contact:
Consilium Strategic Communications MeMed@consilium-comms.com
About Schneider Children’s Medical Center
Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel is the only comprehensive, tertiary care hospital of its kind in the country and in the Middle East, offering the full range of pediatric disciplines under one roof to all children from 0-18. Since its establishment in 1991, Schneider Children's has revolutionized the practice of pediatric medicine in the country and been recognized as one of the leading pediatric institutions in the world.
Schneider derives its name from its founders and major benefactors, the late Irving and Helen Schneider from New York, who also promoted its legacy to serve as a Bridge to Peace between nations. Through this open-door policy, where all children irrespective of race, religion or nationality are treated, Schneider Children's receives patients from neighboring countries including the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, and from as far away as Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
Schneider Children's comprises 250 beds, 43% of which are assigned to critical care (Intensive Care Units, Neonatology, Burns, etc.). The medical center serves as the national referral center for Hematology-Oncology, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Cardiology, and organ and bone marrow transplantation.
Just for Children
Schneider Children's is all about children. It utilizes a unique approach to pediatric medicine where children are treated as children and not as small adults. Since they have different emotional and physical resources for healing, Schneider Children’s utilizes a “whole-child-care” multidisciplinary approach, whereby treatment is integrated with emotional, psychological, educational and developmental care.
Medical Excellence
Schneider Children’s has led many firsts in Israel and the world: multi-organ transplantation, cardiac surgery in a 780gm preemie, heart valve replacement through catheterization, discovery of new genes for mental retardation, artificial pancreas trials, and innovative surgical and therapeutic techniques. Two physicians are recipients of Israel’s highest award: the Israel Prize for Medical Research.
Academic Excellence
Schneider Children's is a member of Clalit Health Services - the largest HMO in Israel - and its only pediatric center of 14 hospitals. Through its affiliation with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, every department conducts the teaching and training of doctors, medical students, nurses and paramedical personnel. Over half its physicians serve on Sackler’s medical faculty, while some 14% hold the title of professor.
Schneider Children’s Medical Center contact:
Michal Konforti
michalkon@clalit.org.il
- Poole NM, Shapiro DJ, Fleming-Dutra KE, Hicks LA, Hersh AL, Kronman MP. Antibiotic Prescribing for Children in United States Emergency Departments: 2009–2014. Pediatrics. 2019;143. pmid:30622156
- Leigh S, Grant A, Murray N, Faragher B, Desai H, Dolan S, et al. The Cost of Diagnostic Uncertainty: A Prospective Economic Analysis of Febrile Children Attending an NHS Emergency Department. BMC Med. 2019;17: 48. pmid:30836976