Infectious
diseases, which pose a great threat worldwide, have a significant impact on
public health and the world economy. It contributes to increased healthcare costs,
unnecessary drug-related side effects, and increased antimicrobial resistance.
It is not always easy to distinguish the etiological differentiation of
diseases that can develop with bacteria and viruses. Therefore, one of the
biggest challenges in medicine is how to correctly distinguish between the
different causes of these infections and how to manage the patient. Because
bacterial and viral infections often present similar symptoms. The real
decision is whether the infection is caused by bacteria or viruses and whether
to treat the patient with antibiotics. There are many different methodological
approaches to diagnosing infections. Biomarkers have been used in the diagnosis
of diseases and other conditions for many years. Biomarkers are molecules found
in blood and body fluids in measurable amounts, which can evaluate biological and
pathological processes. These key indicators can provide vital information in determining
disease prognosis, predicting response to treatments, adverse events and drug
interactions, and identifying key risks. An effective biomarker is extremely important
for the early diagnosis of various diseases. The explosion of interest in biomarker
research is driving the development of new predictive, diagnostic, and prognostic
products in modern medical practice. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate
the use and diagnostic potential of current and investigational biomarkers in
the distinction between bacterial and viral infections.
Keywords: Current and investigational biomarkers, Bacterial and viral infections.
