J Korean Med Assoc.  2023 Jun;66(6):374-381. 10.5124/jkma.2023.66.6.374.

Infectious diseases and biomarker use

• Kim J
• Park DW

• KMID: 2543851
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2023.66.6.374

Abstract

Background
Biomarkers are used in diverse clinical fields, including oncological, cardiovascular, infectious, and rheumatoid diseases. In infectious diseases, biomarkers are widely used for identifying fever due to infection, evaluating the possibility of progression to sepsis, predicting prognosis, estimating treatment response, and determining the timing of discontinuation of antibiotic treatment. Thus, biomarkers are used as indicators that can inform clinical decisions.
Current Concepts
Biomarkers for infectious diseases typically relate to inflammatory processes in, which are activated by external antigens. Historically, research has focused on acute phase reactants; however, more recently, various inflammatory response biomarkers have been investigated.
Discussion and Conclusion
To date, no infallible biomarker has been identified for infectious diseases. The main reasons are the potential for these molecules to also be affected by non-infectious causes and the individual differences in the degree of change of the biomarker. Although diagnosis and clinical decisions cannot depend on biomarkers alone, these are undoubtedly essential tools in clinical contexts, if thoroughly and carefully characterized. Here, we review several substances used or showing significant potential as biomarkers for infectious diseases.

Keyword

Biomarkers; Sepsis; Septic shock; Communicable diseases; 생물표지자; 패혈증; 패혈쇼크; 감염질환