Diagnostic accuracy of tools across various healthcare settings

Noémie Boillat Blanco’s research focuses on assessing the diagnostic accuracy and real-world applicability of medical tools across diverse healthcare environments, with the goal of developing effective, context-specific interventions. In Swiss emergency departments, she led a study investigating the performance of lung ultrasound and host biomarkers in predicting COVID-19 patients’ outcomes. The findings demonstrated the strong diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound for early risk assessment in COVID-19 [1]. Additionally, her team highlighted sTREM-1 concentrations as a promising tool for risk stratification [2, 3].

Expanding to primary care, she obtained a Eurostars grant (grant 113595/21/35343), to identify and facilitate the implementation of innovative diagnostic tools [4].

Additionally, with funding from the Novartis Foundation, she evaluated the diagnostic performance of biomarkers and clinical data to optimize the diagnosis of pneumonia among nursing home residents. Through research adapted to the needs of different healthcare settings, her goal is to improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance patient care, and contribute to public health advancements.

Selected publications:

[1] Brahier T, Meuwly JY, Pantet O, Brochu Vez MJ, Gerhard Donner H, Hartley MA, Hugli O, Boillat-Blanco N. Lung ultrasonography for risk stratification in patients with COVID-19: a prospective observational cohort study. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73: e4189. DOI.

[2] Van Singer M, Brahier T, Ngai M, Wright J, Weckman A, Erice C, Meuwly JY, Hugi O, Kain K, Boillat-Blanco N. COVID-19 risk stratification algorithms based on sTREM-1 and IL-6 in emergency department. J Allerg Clin Immunol 2021; 147:99-106. DOI.

[3] Van Singer M, Brahier T, Brochu Vez MJ, Gerhard Donnet H, Hugli O, Boillat-Blanco N. Pancreatic stone protein for early mortality prediction in COVID-19 patients. Crit Care 2021; 25: 267. DOI.

[4] Fischer C, Knüsli J, Lhopitallier L, Tenisch E, Meuwly MG, Douek P, Meuwly JY, D’Acremont V, Kronenberg A, Locatelli I, Mueller Y, Senn N, Boillat-Blanco N. Pulse oximetry as an aid to rule out pneumonia among patients with a lower respiratory tract infection in primary care. Antibiotics 2023; 12: 496. DOI.