The importance of diagnostics in infectious diseases management

Respiratory tract infections

• Ranging from widely recognised pathogens, like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza to undertreated infections, like tuberculosis—which caused 1.5 million deaths in 2018—respiratory tract infections are among the leading global causes of death and disability worldwide¹
• Early, accurate pathogen identification—from laboratories to emergency care and point-of-care settings—is crucial to informing effective infection control

Sexually transmitted infections

• Curable infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are estimated to affect more than 376 million people annually, while conditions like HIV face new management challenges with the potential overreliance on and limited adherence to pre-exposure treatments^2,3
• Most infected individuals have few or no symptoms, making diagnostic testing critical to detect STIs and inform appropriate patient management⁴

Viral hepatitis

• Liver inflammation due to a viral agent is a major health challenge. More than 300 million people are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 9 out of 10 people living with viral hepatitis are unaware⁵
• Chronic liver inflammation can often lead to liver fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and eventually to liver decompensation and death. Access to high-quality testing and treatment monitoring are important for managing the burden of this disease⁶

Congenital infections

• During pregnancy, several pathogens can be vertically transmitted to a fetus or newborn which are linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes or consequences to the child⁷
• The newborn period is often the only point at which laboratory testing and follow-up allow confirmation of a congenital infection⁸

Transfusion-transmitted infections

• Blood and plasma donations are a selfless and life-saving gift, coming from over 118.5 million donations globally each year⁹
• The consistent evolution of pathogens makes continuous redefining of testing standards critical to maintaining a safe blood supply¹⁰

Transplant transmitted infections

• An estimated 139,024 solid organ transplants are performed every year worldwide, as they are often the only treatment option for certain diseases or conditions¹¹
• Reliable testing that can be performed pre-or post-transplantation plays a key role in supporting patient safety and outcome

Vector-borne disease

• Vector-borne diseases are caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria that are transmitted by vectors. They account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases and cause over 700K deaths annually¹²
• Testing for new and known vector-borne diseases is critical for informing appropriate management for individuals exposed to or infected by these pathogens

Healthcare associated infections (HAI)

• 7-10% of hospitalised patients in developing countries acquire HAIs, and it is the most frequent adverse event in health-care settings worldwide¹³
  
• Molecular and serological diagnostic solutions are becoming critically important for the testing of hospital-acquired infections, particularly in the battle against antibiotic-resistant agents

Antimicrobial resistance

• Every year, approximately 700,000 people die globally of antimicrobial resistant infections—these types of infections are predicted to be a leading cause of death by 2050¹⁴
• Diagnostics play a critical role in antimicrobial stewardship efforts and support the timely identification of drug-resistant pathogens, which is essential for effective infection control and for reducing the development of resistant pathogens¹⁵

Gastrointestinal (GI) Infections

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Infections cause a significant infectious disease burden worldwide. It is important to understand the cause and its prevalence.