Feverish babies admitted to hospital are frequently assumed to have a serious bacterial infection and are treated with antibiotics as a precaution. However, many of these infections are actually viral and tend to be milder, meaning the drugs are unnecessary and may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
A blood test that can distinguish bacterial from viral infections in 15 minutes could change this. By quickly identifying which babies truly need antibiotics, the test would allow clinicians to avoid prescribing them to those with viral infections, reducing unnecessary drug exposure.
The test is still in development, and details about its accuracy and mechanism are not yet available. But the potential to cut antibiotic overuse in a vulnerable population makes it a promising area of research.