The value of pathogen DNA load in evaluating the efficacy of bloodstream infection: a prospective observational study
Shiheng Wu, Jing Liu, Lili Yan, Xinmei Zhong, Chenchen Shi, Li He, Baogui Wang · 2025
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Description
Judging whether treatment for a bloodstream infection is working usually leans on fever and general markers. Shiheng Wu and co-authors test a more direct signal: the amount of pathogen DNA in the blood, counted precisely by droplet digital PCR. They followed twenty-five patients whose infections were caused by one of two bacteria, testing each patient three times during care.
Baseline DNA loads differed sharply between the two bacterial groups, and starting load did not track illness severity scores. During treatment the DNA load fell steadily in both groups as fevers settled, and its path matched the standard inflammation markers very closely. In one group, a high load also flagged hidden secondary abscesses with striking accuracy. The authors conclude that tracking pathogen DNA gives an objective, direct gauge of treatment response in bloodstream infection.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Shiheng Wu, Jing Liu, Lili Yan, Xinmei Zhong, Chenchen Shi, Li He, Baogui Wang |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2025 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 24 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |