Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging problem in healthcare, and represents one of the most crucial challenges for the decades ahead. Although several antimicrobial stewardship initiatives have been undertaken at different layers within the health care services structure, the pediatric setting proposes particular challenges that make the proper management of antibiotic therapy very complex. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has made matters worse, given the high reliance on telemedicine in pediatric patient assessment. It has therefore become crucial, especially in the emergency department, to correctly identify the nature of the infectious agent causing a patient’s clinical condition in order to determine whether or not empiric antibiotic therapy is required.

 

The hematochemical tests currently available to pediatricians, such as blood count with leukocyte formula, c-reactive protein, and procalcitonin, may not be sufficient when determining the specific type of infection. This can lead to an unwarranted over-prescription of antibiotic therapy.

 

Today, a novel signature assay quickly and accurately differentiates between bacterial and viral infections and can be run on fully automated, high-throughput testing platforms. This new diagnostic solution integrates the circulating levels of three host biomarkers to provide an easy-to-interpret score that helps clinicians expedite patient management and treatment decisions, especially in emergency settings.

 

Learning Objectives