DNA-based Infectious Disease Detection

​BACKGROUND

iGenomeDx provides a faster and more accurate method to detect infectious agents. A simple swab-based test is used to identify commonly occurring infectious agents including bacteria and viruses. This test is of utmost importance in pediatric care and hospital-acquired infection detection. Often it is difficult to distinguish the agent of infection: bacterial or viral. Bacterial infections can be treated using antibiotics whereas few treatment options exist for viral infection. Incorrect diagnoses may lead to an unnecessary medication regimen which should be most definitely avoided. 

SCIENCE

A unique DNA fragment (primer) of each pathogen is used to uniquely identify the presence of respective DNA which in turn confirms the presence/absence of the pathogen. This primer-based method uniquely identifies the pathogen giving the most accurate diagnostic of the infectious disease.

​BENEFITS OF TESTING VIA DNA-BASED METHOD

  • Accuracy. Can identify a specific pathogen or at a minimum, distinguish between bacterial and viral infections

  • Rapid Diagnostic. DNA-based method can test the patient specimen for multiple pathogens with much faster speed than culture based methodology traditionally used in the current clinical setting.

  • Avoid Unnecessary Medication. Pediatric Care is often striving to reduce the use of undesirable medication for children.

  • Hospital-Acquired Infection. Often infections acquired due to hospital stays are detected 48 hours after being discharged. The suggested DNA test on discharge may help with the early detection of certain hospital-acquired infections. This may reduce the discomfort caused to the patient and help improve the performance and ratings of the hospital.

RESPIRATORY INFECTION

Common Symptoms of Respiratory Infections include:​

  1. Cough (dry or productive with mucus)

  2. Sore throat

  3. Runny or stuffy nose

  4. Sneezing

  5. Shortness of breath

  6. Chest pain or discomfort

  7. Fever and chills

  8. Headache

  9. Wheezing or crackling sounds in the lungs

  10. Muscle aches and body aches

  11. Fatigue and weakness

  12. Loss of appetite

  13. Watery or red eyes

  14. Sinus pressure or pain

Pathogens Tested

VIRUS TARGETS

  • SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)​

Influenza

  • Influenza (A, H1-2009)

  • Influenza B

  • Influenza C

  • Parainfluenza (1, 2, 3 & 4)​

Common Cold

  • Adenovirus

  • Human bocavirus

  • Human rhinovirus

  • Human coronavirus (NL63/229E/OC43/HKU1)

  • Enterovirus

  • Human parechovirus

URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)

Common Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) include:​

  1. Frequent urge to urinate (even if little urine is passed)

  2. Pain or burning sensation during urination (dysuria)

  3. Cloudy or strong-smelling urine

  4. Lower abdominal or pelvic pain

  5. Urine that appears red, pink, or cola-colored (a sign of blood in the urine)

  6. Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying

  7. Mild fever and chills (in some cases)

  8. Pressure in the lower abdomen or lower back pain

​If the infection spreads to the kidneys, symptoms may also include higher fever, back or side pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Pathogens Tested

  • Escherichia coli

  • Staphylococcus aureus

  • Streptococcus saprophyticus

  • Enterococcus faecalis

  • Ureaplasma urealyticum

  • Candida sp.

  • Proteus mirabilis

  • Klebsiella pnuemoniae

  • Morganella morganii

  • Serratia marcescens

  • Mycoplasma hominis

  • Klebsiella oxytoca

  • Enterobacter cloacae

  • Providencia stuartii

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa

  • Streptococcus agalactiae

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

Common Symptoms of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) include:​​

  1. Pain or burning sensation during urination

  2. Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus

  3. Itching or irritation around the genital area

  4. Sores, blisters, or bumps on or around the genitals, mouth, or rectum

  5. Pain during sexual intercourse

  6. Lower abdominal pain (especially in women)

  7. Swelling or tenderness in the genital area

  8. Bleeding between periods or after sex (in women)

  9. Fever and general malaise

  10. Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area​

Many STIs can be asymptomatic, especially in the early stages, which is why regular screening is essential for sexually active individuals.

Pathogens Tested​​

  • Chlamydia trachomatis

  • Gardnerella vaginalis

  • Mycoplasma genitalium

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae

  • Treponema pallidum

  • Trichomonas vaginalis

  • Herpes simplex virus 1

  • Herpes simplex virus 2

  • Ureaplasma parvum / urealyticum

Gastro Infection (GI)

Common Symptoms of a Gastro Infection (GI) include:​​

  1. Diarrhea (may be watery or bloody)

  2. Nausea and vomiting

  3. Loss of appetite

  4. Fever and chills

  5. Bloating and gas

  6. Dehydration symptoms (such as dry mouth, dizziness, or reduced urine output)

  7. Fatigue and weakness

  8. Headache

  9. Urgent need for bowel movements

GI infections can range from mild to severe, and symptoms typically depend on the causative pathogen, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Pathogens Tested

​VIRUS TARGETS

  • Adenovirus

  • Astrovirus

  • Norovirus G1

  • Norovirus G2

  • Rotavirus

  • Sapovirus​

​BACTERIA TARGETS​

  • Campylobacter sp.

  • Clostridium difficile

  • Salmonella sp.

  • Shigella sp.

  • Verotoxin positive E. coli

  • Yersinia enterocolitica

​PARASITES

  • Cryptosporidium sp.

  • Entamoeba histolytica

  • Giardia lamblia

Wound Infection (WI)

Common Symptoms of a Wound Infection (WI) include:​​

  1. Redness and swelling around the wound

  2. Increased pain or tenderness in the affected area

  3. Warmth around the wound site

  4. Pus or cloudy drainage from the wound

  5. Foul odor from the wound discharge

  6. Delayed healing or wound not closing

  7. Fever and chills (may indicate a more serious infection)

  8. Swollen lymph nodes near the affected area

  9. Red streaks spreading from the wound

  10. Skin discoloration or darkening around the wound site​

If a wound shows these signs, it’s essential to seek medical attention to prevent the infection from spreading.

Pathogens Tested​​

  • Acinetobacter baumannii

  • Bacteroides spp

  • Citrobacter freundii

  • Enterobacter aerogenes

  • Enterobacter cloacae

  • Enterococcus faecalis

  • Streptococcus pyogenes

  • Enterococcus faecium

  • Escherichia coli

  • Klebsiella oxytoca

  • Klebsiella pneumoniae

  • Morganella morganii

  • Proteus mirabilis

  • Proteus vulgaris

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa

  • Staphylococcus aureus

  • Clostridium novy

  • Clostridium septicum

  • Clostridium perfringens

  • Kingella kingae