Differential Markers of Bacterial and Viral Infections in Children for Point-of-Care Testing.

Abstract

Children suffering from infectious diseases, both bacterial and viral, are often treated with empirical antibiotics. Keeping in mind both the menace of microorganisms and antibiotic toxicity, it is imperative to develop point-of-care testing (POCT) to discriminate bacterial from viral infections, and to define indications for antibiotic treatment. This article reviews potential protein biomarkers and host-derived gene expression signatures for differentiating between bacterial and viral infections in children, and focuses on emerging multiplex POCT devices for the simultaneous detection of sets of protein biomarkers or streamlined gene expression signatures that may provide rapid and cost-effective pathogen-discriminating tools.

• Authors: Yu-Ting Tsao, Yao-Hung Tsai, Wan-Ting Liao, Ching-Ju Shen, Ching-Fen Shen, Chao-Min Cheng
• Journal: Trends in molecular medicine (Trends Mol Med) Vol. 26 Issue 12 Pg. 1118-1132 (12 2020) ISSN: 1471-499X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33008730 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers

Topics

• Age Factors
• Bacterial Infections (diagnosis, etiology)
• Biomarkers
• Child
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Diagnostic Tests, Routine (methods, standards)
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Humans
• Point-of-Care Testing
• Virus Diseases (diagnosis, etiology)