Host response profiling reveals heterogenous immune responses in hospitalised adults with respiratory viral detection

Background:Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is the commonest reason for antibiotic use.Distinguishing bacterial from viral ARI is challenging, leading to antibiotic overuse and antimicrobial resistance.Respiratory viruses detected by PCR in patients with ARI may be causally related, but J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Interpretation:Host gene expression scores suggest that that the true aetiology of ARI in adults with respiratory viruses detected by PCR is heterogenous, especially for RhV, and that careful interpretation is required before attributing causality.Combining pathogen PCR with host response testing may aid interpretation and could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.