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Transforming pediatric cancer care: Real-time monitoring for early infection detection
The Swiss fever project
The Swiss Fever Project, spearheaded by Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming infection management in pediatric cancer patients. Children undergoing chemotherapy are particularly susceptible to infections due to their compromised immune systems. Traditionally, intravenous antibiotics are administered as soon as a fever occurs during neutropenia (low white blood cells), but this approach can lead to antibiotic resistance. The Swiss Fever Project seeks to address this issue by developing a digital health solution for real-time monitoring of vital signs, enabling early detection of infections, which could help reduce the duration of intravenous antibiotic use.
Innovative real-time monitoring system
In collaboration with CSEM, Insel Gruppe has customized an Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) solution, called the X-Data platform, which supports secure remote and continuous monitoring of vital signs. Thanks to CSEM’s expertise, the platform now features advanced capabilities designed to facilitate seamless data collection and analysis.
“We’ve tailored our focus to the real needs of patients, as defined by leading doctors at the hospital,” says Asun Rubio, Group Leader, MedTech, CSEM. “We customized our base platform to include two primary functions that make early infection detection feasible and effective: continuous temperature and multiple vital sign monitoring. As sudden temperature spikes often indicate infection, the system notifies caregivers instantly if a threshold is exceeded, allowing for prompt intervention to mitigate infection risks.”
“Beyond temperature, the system also monitors vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. This comprehensive approach ensures subtle changes in the patient’s condition are detected, providing a more complete picture of health that may reveal infections even before a temperature rise occurs.”
Benefits of real-time monitoring in pediatric cancer care
“CSEM’s engineers also worked to ensure all these vital signs can be monitored and accessed via an intuitive dashboard, setting a new benchmark in clinical data management,” explains Eva Brack, MD, PhD, Children’s Clinic, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital. “One of the most impactful aspects of the X-Data platform is advanced encryption and stringent privacy measures, aligning the platform with our commitment to safeguarding patient data, building trust with our patients and their families. Additionally, the platform’s robust analytics are designed to provide actionable insights that support precise interventions, ultimately aiming to improve patient quality of life and reduce hospitalization times.”
Cost savings and improved quality of life
By making the most of the potential of the hospital’s original platform and adapting it with CSEM’s expertise for use in the Swiss Fever Project trial, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, has avoided the high costs associated with early-stage development. Additionally, by reducing reliance on antibiotics and hospital resources, the system could lower healthcare costs over the long term.
Paving the way for a new era in pediatric cancer care
This innovative clinical trial marks a significant advancement in pediatric cancer care, with the potential to reshape treatment protocols and improve the lives of young cancer patients and their families by allowing them to maintain normal routines and activities with minimal disruption. By harnessing the power of IoMT and real-time data monitoring, healthcare providers can offer a safer, more responsive approach to infection prevention and overall care management. As the Swiss Fever Project progresses, the data collected by the platform promise to provide valuable insights and set new standards for pediatric healthcare.