IMMUNOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR THE DETECTION OF RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS

This will allow an easier, faster and more effective way to detect and diagnose respiratory infections caused by the most prevalent viruses and bacteria in Chile and the world. In addition, we may also estimate the severity of the respiratory infection.

PROBLEM TO SOLVE

There is incorrect management of epidemic outbreaks of acute respiratory tract infections, which are the leading cause of hospitalizations and pediatric deaths worldwide. This is because diagnosis is based on the observation of clinical signs and detection of pathogens tools that are slow. In addition, the diagnosis requires specialized personnel and laboratory equipment with high costs. This adds to a delay of between 6 and 24 hours to obtain results since technology and skilled personnel are not always available in all hospitals due to technical or economic limitations.

All of this leads to: i) a high number of infant hospitalizations, ii) saturation of emergency services; and iii) an increase in economic expenditure due to medical consultations, which become constant because of the lack of diagnostic accuracy.

¿HOW TO SOLVE IT?

The development of a fast test based on monoclonal antibodies has been proposed allowing in a simultaneous way the detection of infectious respiratory tract agents - viral and bacterial - in samples from nasopharyngeal secretions, which also include a predictor of the patient's immune response to the infection. This fast detection will give us more control over patients with respiratory infections, helping to limit the spread of viruses and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and treatments.