A new research study reveals that a simple blood test could now identify whether an infection caused in the body is by a virus or by bacteria.  This study is immensely helpful as researchers and scientists believe that it will help in giving the right medication to the patients.

It is a known fact that antibiotics used in bacterial infections are ineffective against viruses. And there is a higher chance of developing antibiotic resistant infections due to the over usage of antibiotics.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Timothy Sweeney is a physician and an engineering research associate at the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection at Stanford University. According to the researcher, most often it is difficult to differentiate whether an infection is caused by bacteria or virus, as the patient looks the same in both the conditions.

Based on the previous research and the present research, a blood test was developed that discovered that the immune response was different for viral and bacterial infections. For this, the activity of seven genes has been analyzed. These genes produce certain molecules, based on which the immune response varies to different infections. The genes expressed stand at different levels, which can be found out by testing the blood samples.

Researchers aim to combine both the studies and tests that will help the doctors whether the patient has any infection and if so, what kind of infection.

However, the studies are still in the preliminary stages. Researchers believe that there is more in-depth study required before the blood test becomes clinically available.

Obianuju Helen Okoye

Dr. Obianuju Helen Okoye is an American Public Health Physician/Health Care Executive/Researcher/Entrepreneur with a Medical Degree (MD), an MBA in Healthcare Management, and a Masters in Epidemiology/Public Health) with vast experience in clinical medicine, public health, mental health, telemedicine, Market Access, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, coupled with an exceptional background in Health Care Administration and Clinical expertise. She has been featured on NBC News, Yahoo News, The Huffington Post, Tonic by VICE, She Knows, Massage Magazine, Carol Roth, among others. She is a contributing writer to Entrepreneur magazine and the Huffington Post, and has been a scientific writer for the renowned websites The Paleo Diet and AusMed.

Her background includes being a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Research Fellow, and State of Michigan HIV/AIDS Epidemiologist.

She has a plethora of clinical research experience and has presented at US and International Medical Conferences. Dr. Okoye has authored some publications, and is considered an expert on the Affordable Care Act.