2016 FoM SSRP PROJECT REGISTRATION AND DESCRIPTION FORM
Suggested Deadline to post projects: January 26, 2016
Applications will be accepted from:
Both MD & non-MD Undergraduates
MD undergraduate students only non-MD undergraduate students only
Project Duration:
Suitable for either a 4 or 8 week project (Only MD 2017 students are eligible to apply for 4-week projects)
Only suitable for an 8-week project Only suitable for a 4-week project
Additional notes to potential applicants:
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Title:
The timing of antibiotic therapy and its effect on blood culture results in patients affected by severe sepsis and septic shock in the emergency department
Hypothesis or Research Question being addressed:
Null Hypothesis: Blood cultures taken 30 to 60 minutes post administration of antibiotics will have the same rate of positivity as blood cultures taken prior to administration of antibiotics.
Alternate Hypothesis: Blood cultures taken 30 to 60 minutes post administration of antibiotics will have a lower rate of positivity as blood cultures taken prior to administration of antibiotics.
Keywords: Provide approximately 5 key words that describe the proposed research project.
Sepsis, Septic, Shock, Blood Cultures, Antibiotics, Microbiology
PROJECT ATTRIBUTES AND BENEFIT TO THE STUDENT
Please review the online adjudication criteria carefully prior to completing the next two sections to ensure your application is addressing the adjudication criteria outlined in “Project Attributes and Benefits to the Student”.
A) Background and Summary of Proposed Research. In the space available, summarize the proposed project including the rationale for the project, the context within the relevant field of research, the proposed research approach and the expected project outcomes: (please write in lay terms for a non-
specialist audience)
If this is an ongoing project of >8 weeks duration (or 4 weeks for MD 2017 students) clearly distinguish the expected
project outcomes at the end of the FoM SSRP funding period from the overall project objectives.
450 Word Limit
Severe sepsis and septic shock are true emergencies with a high incidence and mortality rate.
Appropriate management of these conditions involves early resuscitation and initiation of antibiotic therapy. In fact, each hour delay in initiation of antibiotics is associated an with a 6 to 10% increase in the mortality rate. Currently, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend obtaining appropriate cultures before anti-microbial therapy is initiated if such cultures do not cause significant delay (> 45 minutes) in the starting of antimicrobial administration. Blood cultures are needed because they help target the right antibiotic against the right bacteria. In the emergency room, there is a delay in the initiation of antibiotic therapy caused by the need to obtain blood cultures in advance, however there is little evidence in literature to support this practice.
The goal of this study is to compare the result of blood cultures taken before the administration of

2016 FoM SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM antibiotics to those taken after the administration of antibiotics. If results suggest that blood cultures post-antibiotics are negatively affected by the administration of antibiotics, there would finally be direct evidence to support the practice of waiting for blood cultures. However, if results reveal that there is a window of time when blood cultures post-antibiotics have similar results to those preantibiotics then antibiotics no longer need to be delayed waiting for blood cultures to be taken. This would potentially have a significant survival benefit for patients and would change current practice and guidelines.
B) Outline the student’s role in the project and describe how they will benefit from their involvement.
This section must address how involvement in this project will help the student gain an understanding of how high quality research is conducted. This includes addressing the opportunities to learn new skills in the context of the relevant learning objectives listed in the online adjudication criteria ; their anticipated interactions with other researchers and the available resources that will contribute to a beneficial experience.
Clearly indicate which items will be completed during the FoM SSRP funding period and which (if applicable) will be completed before or after the funding period if the student and supervisor have chosen to also work together outside of the funding period.
Project feasibility is considered during the adjudication process; 4-week and 8-week projects will be adjudicated separately, with appropriate consideration given to each.
550 Word Limit
The student (TS) will be working in the emergency departments of Vancouver General Hospital and/or Lions Gate Hospital. TS will help identify suitable patients for the study depending on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, obtain consent, initiate, monitor, and followup the patients' laboratory investigations based on a protocol and timeline, and carry out data-collection on patients who have already been enrolled. While at the department the student will liaise with the emergency physician, nurses and unit coordinator, as well as work unsupervised. TS will attend meetings, and work with other researchers in the team including emergency physicians and residents to discuss the research project and give input and receive guidance. TS can be involved in the analysis of data as well as helping with the manuscript.
Benefits to students:
- Appreciation of the scientific method, research design, and implementation
- Learning about data collection and analysis
- Obtaining consent, blood cultures and lab investigations
- Appreciation of timely investigations in the acutely ill septic patient
- Ongoing exposure to the emergency department, cases, and physicians
- Research experience in the fields of intensive care, internal medicine, infectious disease, microbiology and emergency medicine
- Early familiarity with the clinical setting of hospitals
Please indicate if your project requires the following and indicate their status as appropriate. This will help clarify the scope of the project for potential student partners.
This project requires ethics approval (human or animal):
Yes No

2016 FoM SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM
If yes please indicate if you:
Already have approval Will obtain approval before the SSRP funding period Intend for ethics application to be a focus over the funding period
*Please note that as ethics approval can be a lengthy process it is recommended that this be obtained well in advance of the funding period unless the intention is for this activity to form a major part of the FoM SSRP-funded portion of the project.
This project requires access to electronic medical records:
Yes No
If yes please indicate if you:
Already have approval Will obtain approval before the SSRP funding period Plan to obtain approval during the SSRP funding period
Research Location (As applicable, indicate where the project will be conducted.)
City or Region: Vancover
Research Centre:
Hospital: Vancouver General Hospital
Program or Unit: Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine
Additional information (building, lab etc.):
Supervisor’s Information
Supervisor Last Name:
Sweet
Supervisor First Name:
David
FoM Department/School (Main FoM Appointment):
Dept. of Emergency Medicine
Preferred contact method (for students)
Phone supervisor
Email supervisor
Preferred Phone:
604-838-7173
E-mail Address: ddsweet@mail.ubc.ca
UBC FoM Division (if applicable):
Division Critical Care
Phone alternate contact
Email alternate contact
Secondary Phone:
Optional Alternate Contact (e.g. co-supervisor, research/lab coordinator, assistant etc.)
Contact’s Name:
Jeff Yoo
Contact’s Phone Number:
778-990-3860
Contact’s Role:
Senior Emergency Resident on project
Contact’s E-mail Address: jeffhyoo@gmail.com