Kataka: A BioFire diagnostic machine has become operational at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Paediatrics (Shishu Bhawan) here, enabling doctors to identify bacteria and viruses associated with severe pneumonia in children within about an hour.
The facility is being used as part of a research initiative aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment approach for severe pneumonia, including cases involving adenovirus. The rapid testing facility was used on a child suffering from severe pneumonia, with the pathogen test completed within an hour and treatment initiated accordingly.
Viral pneumonia caused by pathogens such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), metapneumovirus and adenovirus is seen among children. Adenovirus can cause severe illness, particularly in young children, and its symptoms can resemble those of common flu, making laboratory confirmation important.
Earlier, samples collected from children with suspected infections at Shishu Bhawan were sent to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, for testing. The process could take around five days, during which treatment was often started based on the clinical assessment and available information.
The new BioFire facility is expected to significantly reduce the time required for pathogen identification. Samples, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from the lungs, can be examined using the machine. It has the capacity to test panels covering 22 and 34 diseases simultaneously.
The testing facility at Shishu Bhawan will be provided free of cost to patients, while a similar test in private facilities can cost around Rs 20,000, according to the information available.
The institute has received approval for Rs 1.71 crore from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the research project, with the funds being provided by the Central Government. The BioFire machine was procured at a cost of Rs 37.50 lakh.
Shishu Bhawan had earlier conducted research on adenovirus during 2023-24. The present initiative seeks to take the work forward by studying treatment approaches for children affected by severe pneumonia and related infections.
The research is being conducted under the guidance of Shishu Bhawan Superintendent Professor Dr Sunil Kumar Agrawal. Professor Dr Bijay Kumar Meher is the Principal Investigator from Shishu Bhawan, with Assistant Professor of Paediatrics Dr Sarthak Nayak, Assistant Professor of Microbiology Dr Soumyashivani Sahu and a scientific researcher from the Multi-Disciplinary Research Unit (MRU) assisting in the project.
