Scientists develop rapid DNA test to detect secondary pneumonia in severe COVID patients

Scientists have developed a rapid diagstic DNA test for severe COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of catching ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Most severe COVID-19 patients are being treated by being put into a medically-induced coma, where y risk of developing secondary pneumonia. Detecting pneumonia in patients is rmally challenging because bacterial samples take time to grow in lab and produce result. In order to counter challenge, scientists developed a rapid diagstic test that can quickly detect pneumonia in se patients. 

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'Uses DNA of different pathogens' 

test uses DNA of different pathogens to detect secondary pneumonia in COVID-19 patients. study was published in journal Critical Care recently. Andrew Conway Morris from University of Cambridge, who is one of le authors said that developed test after determining that COVID-19 patients on a ventilator are at high risk of developing such infections. Conway said that using test y discovered COVID-19 patients under intensive care were twice as likely to develop VAP compared to patients without COVID-19. 

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"During our hospital’s first wave of COVID-19 missions, we ted an apparent increase in rate of VAP. In this study, we, refore, aimed to identify and compare distribution of VAP in critically ill ventilated COVID-19 patients compared to ventilated n-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients mitted to same unit. We performed conventional microbiological culture on all lower respiratory tract samples," researchers said in study. 

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COVID-19 is associated with a high number of patients suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Such patients can spend significant periods of time in intensive care units (ICU), with up to 80% of patients mitted to ICU requiring ventilation support. "Critically ill patients are at high risk of developing secondary pneumonia, especially when ventilated", study said.  

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(Im Credit: AP)