A 9-gene biomarker panel identifies bacterial coinfections in culture-negative COVID-19 cases

Mol Omics. 2022 Sep 26;18(8):814-820. doi: 10.1039/d2mo00100d.

Abstract

Confirmatory diagnosis of bacterial coinfections with COVID-19 is challenging due to the limited specificity of the widely used gold-standard culture sensitivity test despite clinical presentations. A misdiagnosis can either lead to increased health complications or overuse of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients. With a multi-step systems biology pipeline, we have identified a 9-gene biomarker panel from host blood that can identify bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients, even in culture-negative cases. We have also formulated a qPCR-based score that diagnoses bacterial coinfection with COVID-19 with the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of 0.93, 0.96, and 0.89, respectively. This gene signature and score can assist in the clinical decision-making process of necessary and timely prescription of antibiotics in suspected bacterial coinfection cases with COVID-19 and thereby help to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • Coinfection* / diagnosis
  • Coinfection* / microbiology
  • Humans

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biomarkers