precision microbial control / precise control of microbes
[ how many patients die / quality of life ] Infections are getting out of control. Antibiotics are a $40.7B market, but the increase in antibiotic resistance means that fewer classes of antibiotics will continue to be effective.
It's an unspoken understanding that hospitals are overrun with antibiotic resistant bacteria. Many hospitals lack the tools and capacity to properly monitor and control these strains. These strains end up in patients, causing additional surgeries, extended hospital stays, and other problems adding to $20B in additional healthcare costs. Many patients suffer from hospital-acquired infection.
Other than "adhering to best practices", there are few options, which will naturally lead to more antibiotic resistance.
We hypothesize that at least 10% of clinics and hospitals in the US that deal with antibiotic resistant strains and nosocomial infections are willing to pay $120,000 annually to monitor and develop phage-based precision antibiotics for prevention of antibiotic resistant nosocomial infection