Hospital infections and antimicrobial resistance constitute a major threat to health systems, significantly burdening the health of the population and the economies of the states. In Greece, hospital infections lead to approximately 3,000 deaths annually and entail costs of over 1.2 billion euros due to prolonged hospital stays, loss of productivity, and complex treatments. At the same time, the country records the highest rates of antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance in Europe, with Gram-negative pathogens (e.g. Klebsiella, Acinetobacter) dominating in hospitals.
The BIOGUARD project comes to answer the urgent need for innovative, effective and user-friendly solutions in the surveillance, prevention and reduction of hospital infections. The goal of BIOGUARD is to develop an integrated, portable and affordable platform for the rapid detection of microbial contamination and the assessment of the biological status of surfaces and areas in healthcare facilities.
The core of BIOGUARD is based on the combined use of micro-sensors, microfluidic technologies and image analysis, as well as artificial intelligence algorithms. The device will be capable of detecting the presence of bacteria and contamination markers in real time, while the accompanying software application will allow recording, geolocation, trend analysis and decision-making for cleaning or disinfection actions.
The methodology of the project includes:
The design and construction of a low-cost biosensor based on nanomaterials and enzymatic reactions for high-precision applications.
Its integration into an ergonomic hand-held system, capable of rapid sampling from surfaces.
The development of Machine Learning algorithms for microbial risk classification and automatic interpretation of measurements.
The pilot testing in real environments (hospitals, intensive care units, nursing homes, etc.)
BIOGUARD will be a valuable tool for healthcare units, contributing to:
In the reduction of hospital infections through targeted cleaning interventions.
To the restriction of the use of antibiotics and consequently of microbial resistance.
In improving the hygiene conditions and the safety of patients and staff.
In providing documented data for infection control policies.
The added value of the project is based on:
In technological innovation, through the integration of biometric technologies, digital imaging and Artificial Intelligence.
In the scientific contribution, by providing new data on the correlation between microbial load and surface cleanliness in clinical settings.
In the translation perspective, with the possibility of scaling up to applications beyond hospitals (e.g., food, pharmaceutical industry, schools).
In terms of economic performance, by strengthening the competitiveness of the participating entities and promoting an exportable product with international interest.
BIOGUARD is implemented by an interdisciplinary and complementary collaboration structure, which includes research institutions, technology companies, and healthcare providers, combining cutting-edge expertise with field experience. The project aspires to become a model of applied research with an immediate social and economic impact.