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

Trends Mol Med. 2020 Dec;26(12):1118-1132. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.09.004. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

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.

Keywords: bacterial infection; biomarkers; host transcriptional signature; multiplex; point-of-care testing (POCT); viral infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Biomarkers