When patients visit a healthcare provider complaining of respiratory illness, its often difficult for the provider to distinguish between a bacterial infection necessitating antibiotics and a viral infection. Because of this lack of clarity, providers sometimes will prescribe antibiotics as a just in case strategy. Unfortunately, indiscriminate use of antibiotics has resulted in antibiotic resistance and increased side effects. Even in cases where antibiotics are warranted, experts recommend the shortest course of antibiotics possible.
A recent prospective multicenter diagnostic study published in JAMA Network Open discussed a point-of-care test measuring host-gene expression that can differentiate between a bacterial infection and a viral one. Data on patients who visited US emergency departments with fever and acute respiratory syndrome symptoms was collected over a 5-year period from 2014 to 2019, with data on additional COVID-19 patients seen in the ER between March and December 2020. A total of 616 patients were included in the initial analysis, with 33 patients in the COVID-19 cohort.
Participants enrolled in the trial gave blood samples which were analyzed by a host response bacterial/viral test. The test, which takes about 45 minutes, measures the expression of 45 host messenger RNA targets. Based on the results, scientists were able to determine whether an infection was bacterial or viral with a high degree of accuracy.
The primary analysis included 334 subjects in whom the scientists were highly confident of the infection type based on microbiological test results or the analysis of a clinical panel. In this analysis, the test showed a sensitivity of 89.8% (95% confidence interval, 77.8%-96.2%) and a specificity of 82.1% (95% CI, 77.4%-86.6%) for bacterial infection. A secondary analysis looked at all 616 participants, including subjects whose infection source was less clear. This yielded a sensitivity of 86.4% (95% CI, 79.6%-92.5%) and a specificity of 71.9% (95% CI, 67.7%-75.9%) for bacterial infection. In both cases, the results were significantly more accurate than tests that measured the level of procalcitonin, a commonly used biomarker of bacterial infection.
Although symptoms of bacterial and viral infections are often quite similar, the microbes themselves are distinct. Because viral and bacterial pathogens are so different, our immune systems have evolved different ways of dealing with them, Ephraim Tsalik, MD, MHS, PhD, associate professor in the department of molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine, and an author of the study, told Contagion. His team of scientists used machine learning to help them winnow down tens of thousands of genes to zoom in on the few dozen that exhibited changes indicating the immune system was responding to either a viral or bacterial infection.
In Tsaliks view, the greatest benefit of the test is its ability to confirm that an infection is not bacterial, as that frees healthcare providers from the pressure to prescribe antibiotics. "A lot of times, what patients come in for is reassurance, he said. If providers let patients know that their infection is likely viral and will run its course without intervention, instances of unnecessary antibiotic use can be avoided. While the test may miss a few infections that actually are bacterial, Tsalik stressed that patients can always return to providers and get a prescription for antibiotics should their clinical course indicate it.
The science behind the host response bacterial/viral test lends itself to any environment, according to Tsalik, although barriers such as cost, lack of personnel expertise, and workflow issues may hamper its distribution, at least in the near term. The hope is to make this available in a form that would be widely available, he said.
View original post here:
Virus or Bacteria? Study Reveals Promising Test Results - Contagionlive.com
- Silicon Biosystems to Present Single-Circulating Tumor Cell Molecular Characterization at the Fourth World CTC Summit [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2012]
- Protein could be key for drugs that promote bone growth [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Study sheds light on genetic 'clock' in embryonic cells [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Study involving twin sisters provides clues for battling aggressive cancers [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2014]
- Clues for battling aggressive cancers from twin sisters study [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2014]
- Genetic cause found for premature ovarian failure [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2014]
- Rutgers' Human Genetics Institute Wins $19 Million Federal Contract [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2014]
- Elsevier Publishes Four New Books in Microbiology Portfolio [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2014]
- Disease, Evolution, Neurology, and Drugs: Fruit Fly Research Continues to Teach Us About Human Biology [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2015]
- "Big Brain" Gene Allowed for Evolutionary Expansion of Human Neocortex [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2015]
- Director Molecular Genetics jobs in Rtp at LabCorp [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2015]
- Molecular Genetics definition of Molecular Genetics in the ... [Last Updated On: June 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 4th, 2015]
- molecular and human genetics | Momentum - The Baylor ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2015]
- Molecular evolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2015]
- The Rockefeller University Laboratory of Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2015]
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics - Rutgers New Jersey ... [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2015]
- Clinical Genetics Congress | Clinical Genetics 2016 ... [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2016]
- Molecular genetics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics - DNA, RNA, & Protein [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2016]
- MCW: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2016]
- Newcastle Hospitals - Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2016]
- Molecular evolution - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics - mmrl.edu [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- Molecular biology - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- Human Molecular Genetics - amazon.com [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics Service - Great Ormond Street Hospital ... [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2016]
- The Passions of Nazneen Rahman - San Francisco Classical Voice [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Genetic Testing for the Healthy - Harvard Medical School (registration) [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Fundraising page set up in memory of Nottingham's Maid Marian - Nottingham Post [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Dogs have their day at conference - Otago Daily Times [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- GGC Graduates Two from Medical Genetics Training Program - Index-Journal [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Irvine-based CombiMatrix in $33 million merger deal with Bay Area genetics firm - OCRegister [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- First of 10 expected BJC Investigators named - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Madhuri Hegde, PhD is Elected to the Board of the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine - Markets Insider [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Getting the word out: Seminar, walk put spotlight on Sickle Cell disease - Dothan Eagle [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2017]
- Out of a fish gut study, researchers open new doors in intestinal health - Durham Herald Sun [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2017]
- Gene-Silencing Finding May Lead to Better Understanding of Some ... - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2017]
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program - Wake Forest ... [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2017]
- Genetics and Molecular Biology | Peer Reviewed Journal [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2018]
- Leeds Genetics Laboratory - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2018]
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Research - iMedPub [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics | ARUP Laboratories [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics - The Ohio State University [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2018]
- Peer Reviewed Genetics and Molecular Biology Journals ... [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2018]
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2018]
- Genomic Career: Molecular Geneticist ($35,620-$101,030) [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics | Department of Pediatrics [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2018]
- Graduate Molecular Genetics - University of Toronto [Last Updated On: January 25th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 25th, 2019]
- Molecular Genetics - OCME - nyc.gov [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2019]
- Molecular Genetics - University of Toronto [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2019]
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2019]
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2019]
- Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics at IISc [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2019]
- Molecular genetics | biology | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2019]
- BCH N of 1 Trial Yields Approved Therapy for Single Rare Disease Patient - Clinical OMICs News [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- 5 habits of highly successful entrepreneurs revealed - GrowthBusiness.co.uk [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- Leading by example: how AquaBounty, Oxford Biomedica, and Berkeley Lights have successfully brought products to market - SynBioBeta [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- Blue Devil of the Week: Searching for Answers in the Genetic Code - Duke Today [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- New Viruses Found in Farmed and Wild Salmon - Hakai Magazine [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics Market to Reach at a CAGR of 8.48% by 2026 With NEOGEN CORPORATION , Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Virbac, General... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Quantabio to Showcase Industry's Fastest qPCR-based NGS Library Quantification Kit and HiFi PCR Mix at American Society of Human Genetics Annual... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Top Researchers to Present Discoveries Made Possible by Bionanos Saphyr System for Genome Imaging Technology at the ASHG 2019 Annual Meeting - Yahoo... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Bionano Genomics Announces Adoption of Its Saphyr System by Clinical Cytogenetics Groups in Academia and Industry to Replace Traditional Methods for... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Racial Disparities In NIH R01 Funding May Be Partly Caused By Topic Choice : Shots - Health News - NPR [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Denison presents: 'Christianity, Race, and the Haunting of the Biomedical Sciences' - The Newark Advocate [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- This image shows the aftermath of two galaxies colliding - CTV News [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Meet The Cast of Charmed Season 2 - TVOvermind [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Inherited Learning? It Happens, but How Is Uncertain - Quanta Magazine [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Where do Canada's federal parties stand on research funding? - Varsity [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- The double bind faced by black research applicants - University World News [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Excessive Brain Activity Linked to Shorter Life Span - PsychCentral.com [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- World Renowned Experts Appointed to Skyhawk Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board - PRNewswire [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Lupus Study Illustrates the Importance of Diversity in Genetic Research - Nature World News [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- Interpace to Present Data at the ATA Annual Meeting - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- Pacific subspecies of fin whales has been revealed by new genetic study - Oceanographic - Oceanographic Magazine [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- Genetic Study: Shared Molecular Pathway Might Influence Susceptibility to Lack of Oxygen Caused by Sleep-disordered Breathing and Other Lung Illnesses... [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- ERT to Treat Pompe May Work Better in Combo with Blood Pressure Medication, Study Says - Pompe Disease News [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]