Application of Metabolomics in Laboratory Testing for Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Metabolomics is emerging as a powerful tool in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, offering insights into disease mechanisms and enabling the identification of biomarkers for early detection and prognosis. This review highlights the application of metabolomics in diagnosing various infections, including tuberculosis (TB), melioidosis, Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), respiratory infections, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Advanced techniques such as UHPLC-QTOFMS, GC-MS, LC-MS, and NMR spectroscopy have been utilized to analyze metabolites in body fluids, including plasma, urine, feces, and sputum, revealing significant alterations in metabolic profiles associated with infection. The identification of specific metabolites, such as acylcarnitines, LysoPE, sphingomyelins, and amino acids, provides valuable diagnostic markers, offering non-invasive alternatives to traditional diagnostic methods. These findings not only improve diagnostic accuracy but also enhance our understanding of infection-induced metabolic changes, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies and personalized treatment approaches. The potential of metabolomics as a diagnostic tool holds promise for improving infection management, particularly in resource-limited settings.