A new blood test shows promise as a rapid way to help doctors determine whether a respiratory infection is viral or bacterial and thus reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics, which only work against bacteria.
The study is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Study co-author Geoffrey Ginsburg, a professor at Duke University School of Medicine, says:
"Current tests require knowledge of the pathogen to confirm infection, because they are strain-specific. But our test could be used right away when a new, unknown pathogen emerges."
He explains the new test would be especially useful for spotting new viruses before they spread into outbreaks.
For example, in the case of pandemic flu or MERS, the new coronavirus that has erupted in the Middle East, it would be very important to diagnose new cases quickly, much faster than current diagnostic tests.
The new test uses a different approach to traditional diagnostics: instead of testing the pathogen, it tests the immune response in the infected person.
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