Method for removing bacteria from blood using high flow rate

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for removing a significant amount of bacteria (e.g., gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria, including bacteria with no or low affinity for heparan sulfate) from whole blood, serum or plasma using an adsorption media. The method can be used in extracorporeal treatments involving high volumetric flow rates and high linear flow rates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ex vivo method for removing bacteria from a sample taken from a subject who is suspected of being infected with bacteria, the method comprising:
 contacting a sample taken from the subject with an adsorption media to allow the formation of an adhering complex, wherein the adhering complex comprises bacteria and the adsorption media; and   separating the sample from the adhering complex to produce the sample with a reduced amount of bacteria.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, serum and plasma. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sample is whole blood. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorption media is a solid substrate of high surface area having a hydrophilic surface that is free of a polysaccharide adsorbent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the solid substrate comprises a plurality of rigid polymer bead. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid polymer bead is a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene or co-polymers of ethylene and other monomers, polyethylene imine, polypropylene, and polyisobutylene. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the solid substrate comprises one or a plurality of hollow fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the solid substrate comprises solid fibers or woven yarn made from solid fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic surface is a cationic surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorption media has a high surface area as a result of surface or roughened topography. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic surface is a neutrally charged surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria in the sample is reduced by about 20% to about 99.9%. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bacteria in the sample is reduced by about 20% to about 40%. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is a gram-negative bacteria. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is a gram-positive bacteria. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of  Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae , carbapenem-resistant  Escherichia coli , carbapenem-resistant  Klebsiella pneumoniae , and extended spectrum beta-lactamase  Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter baumannii , and methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of  Staphylococcus aureus , methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA), and  Escherichia coli.    
     
     
         18 . An ex vivo method for removing bacteria from a sample taken from a subject who is suspected of being infected with bacteria, wherein the bacteria are known to have a low affinity or no affinity for heparan sulfate, the method comprising:
 contacting a sample taken from the subject with an adsorption media to allow the formation of an adhering complex, wherein the adsorption media is a solid substrate of high surface area having at least one polysaccharide adsorbent on the surface thereof; and   separating the sample from the adhering complex to produce the sample with a reduced amount of bacteria.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, serum and plasma. 
     
     
         20 . An ex vivo method for removing bacteria from a sample taken from a subject undergoing dialysis, the method comprising:
 contacting a sample taken from the subject with an adsorption cartridge comprising adsorption media, wherein the adsorption cartridge is in series with a dialysis cartridge to allow the formation of an adhering complex; and   separating the sample from the adhering complex to produce the sample with a reduced amount of bacteria.