Host Immune Response Profiling for the Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Recent advances in infectious disease diagnostics include the development, validation, and commercialization of new tests that measure host gene expression profiles or inflammatory protein concentrations. Interrogating host immune responses may help separate infectious from non-infectious inflammation, differentiate infection types, and/or predict sepsis severity/subtype. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in host response (HR) diagnostics for infectious diseases with a focus on test accuracy. Few studies have assessed the potential impact of HR testing on patient outcomes. We summarize current clinical evidence gaps and describe the types of studies needed to inform optimal integration in clinical practice.