Antibiotic Blood Test can Help Prevent Overuse

Inappropriate use of antibiotics has contributed largely to drug-resistant bacteria. However, a new blood test may just offer a solution to the problem.

Dr. Ephraim Tsalik, an assistant medical professor at Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, developed this new test together with a team of researchers. The findings of the study were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday.

The researchers claimed that the blood test can distinguish viral infections from bacterial infections, helping doctors to predict if antibiotics are necessary. Tsalik explained via U.S. News that there are respiratory infections that can be caused by either viruses or bacteria and knowing which is important in developing a specific treatment.

"Antibiotics treat bacteria, but they do not treat viruses. That's why distinguishing between these various causes of illness is very important to get the right treatment to the right patient, and to offer a prognosis for how the patient is likely to do," Tsalik said.

TIME reported that different tests are currently available to find out if an infection is caused by a bacterium or a virus. However, test results take days to be released from the laboratory, which isn't exactly helpful when a person is in need of an immediate medical solution.

On the other hand, the new test can simply be done inside the doctor's office. Only a few drops of blood are needed from a patient and the results can be expected within an hour. The doctor will then know if the patient has a viral or bacterial infection.

The test, known as host response biomarkers, help in differentiating viral causes of illness from bacterial. CBS reported that the researchers studied the patient's response to the infection instead of looking at the infection itself. It was then discovered that viruses stimulate different, distinct immune reactions in humans.

The blood test was developed when scientists analyzed 273 patients from five hospitals who presented to the emergency department with respiratory illness. The samples were compared to 44 healthy individuals and found that the new test was 87 percent correct in identifying patients who have flu viruses. The test can also indicate if there is no infection present.

Tsalik admits that it is still in its early development and yielding results can take up to 10 hours even if the test shows promise in helping curb antibiotics overuse and unnecessary medical expenses. He is also confident that the process can be reduced to less than one hour.