Jane M Caldwell, Claudia Mily Espinosa, Ritu Banerjee, Joseph B Domachowske
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Acute infections of the respiratory tract are very common in pediatric patients, with an estimated global incidence of 17.2 billion cases in 2019. Accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment of acute respiratory infections can prevent progression to more serious pathologies, especially in the young, elderly, immunocompromised, and other high-risk groups. Due to the significant increase in the number of multiplex molecular tests available, there are now many diagnostic options which generate results within minutes or hours, many of which can be performed at point-of-care or near-patient rather than being sent out to a centralized laboratory. Rapid molecular single- or multiplex testing conducted at point-of-care or near-patient offers the potential to improve timely and accurate diagnosis, decrease inappropriate antibiotic use, decrease reliance on chest radiographs, improve timely antiviral administration, reduce the length of hospital stay, reduce the number of clinical visits, and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes. Optimal use of user-friendly multiplex molecular panels also has the potential to improve regional and global disease surveillance and to fill gaps that exist in our understanding of the epidemiology of respiratory infections. These potential benefits, however, come with limitations. For example, use of multiplex PCR assays is not always a cost effective approach. Despite their potential, there are clinical and/or laboratory circumstances where their use becomes cost prohibitive. Another recognized limitation of multiplex PCR assays is that the pathogen detected may not be the cause of a patient's current symptom complex. Such false positive results may occur because the assays are designed to detect pathogen-specific nucleic acid (which may be residual from a prior illness), rather than replication competent pathogens, or because some pathogens can be present without causing symptomatic infection. Further study is needed to determine optimal use of these tests across different patient groups and settings. Incorporating recommendations for best practice use of multiplex molecular assays into clinical guidelines helps offer a framework for their most appropriate use in the diagnosis of pediatric acute respiratory infections.
期刊介绍:
Infection is a journal dedicated to serving as a global forum for the presentation and discussion of clinically relevant information on infectious diseases. Its primary goal is to engage readers and contributors from various regions around the world in the exchange of knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, both in outpatient and inpatient settings.
The journal covers a wide range of topics, including:
Etiology: The study of the causes of infectious diseases.
Pathogenesis: The process by which an infectious agent causes disease.
Diagnosis: The methods and techniques used to identify infectious diseases.
Treatment: The medical interventions and strategies employed to treat infectious diseases.
Public Health: Issues of local, regional, or international significance related to infectious diseases, including prevention, control, and management strategies.
Hospital Epidemiology: The study of the spread of infectious diseases within healthcare settings and the measures to prevent nosocomial infections.
In addition to these, Infection also includes a specialized "Images" section, which focuses on high-quality visual content, such as images, photographs, and microscopic slides, accompanied by brief abstracts. This section is designed to highlight the clinical and diagnostic value of visual aids in the field of infectious diseases, as many conditions present with characteristic clinical signs that can be diagnosed through inspection, and imaging and microscopy are crucial for accurate diagnosis. The journal's comprehensive approach ensures that it remains a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and researchers in the field of infectious diseases.