Broadening diagnostic range for better patient outcomes
As more and more samples from suspected COVID-19 patients are collected and tested, hospitals should also incorporate syndromic PCR panel testing to identify bacterial pathogens and antibiotic-resistance markers that are indicative of other illnesses and co-infections. Over the last few years, innovations in rapid diagnostics have shortened testing times, creating platforms capable of processing patient samples and panels in less than five hours with just 2 minutes of hands-on time.

Using a combination of rapid diagnostics as a multi-pronged strategy for initial testing can drastically improve patient outcomes and keep pace with a rapidly evolving public health risk. Most importantly, it provides an early and accurate diagnosis which offers numerous benefits.
Ensuring timely treatment and appropriate use of antibiotics
Comprehensive testing increases the ability to clearly and concisely determine a patient’s condition, whether it’s COVID-19, a co-infection or a separate infection altogether. During fast-paced containment efforts where symptoms can be indicative of any number of ailments, it’s even more important for hospitals to identify the specific pathogen and administer effective treatment as soon as possible. Using rapid PCR diagnostic panels, doctors can take appropriate action for treatment in a matter of hours instead of days.

Furthermore, if antibiotic resistant pathogens are identified, these tests also provide guidance on proper treatment and judicious use of antibiotic regimen and encourage improved antibiotic stewardship. The benefits of this are two-fold as they not only reduce the risk of developing drug-resistant infections and the accompanying complications, it also preserves antibiotics as an effective weapon in the arsenal to fight these bacterial co-infections.

Limiting transmission and super-spreading infectious
Quick identification of highly infectious bacterial infections and drug-resistant strains of bacterial pathogens allows hospitals to enhance infection control and reduce transmission rates by isolating affected patients. A study observing the SARS I outbreak in 2003 found that 76% of SARS-CoV infections were acquired in healthcare facilities and hospitalized patients with bacterial infections were sources of super-spreading - where a single patient could infect more than 10 additional persons. By limiting transmission and keeping patients safe while they’re in the hospital, it’s possible to reduce the time patients need to spend in critical care.

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