U.K. experts concluded that MeMed BV has strong potential to support earlier, better-informed treatment decisions for patients with suspected acute infection in NHS emergency departments and urgent treatment centers.
The consensus addresses a common challenge in acute care: bacterial and viral infections often present with similar signs and symptoms, making it difficult to determine the cause. MeMed BV measures three immune proteins—TRAIL, IP-10, and CRP—to generate a score indicating whether an infection is more likely to be bacterial or viral.
Key findings included:
- Use in adult emergency department and urgent treatment center pathways could support earlier treatment decisions and reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing
- Potential savings could come from avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions, although further real-world studies are needed
- Other potential applications include primary care, respiratory hubs, hospital-at-home services, and pediatric emergency care
The panel recommended interpreting MeMed BV results alongside clinical judgement, patient assessment, and other diagnostic information when the cause of infection is unclear.
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