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Infectious Diseases
Illnesses caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites1 – are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.2 It is therefore extremely important that laboratories are equipped to handle sudden surges in demand for diagnostic testing during seasonal cycles and worst-case scenarios, such as pandemics.2
Medix Biochemica assists in the success of our in vitro diagnostic (IVD) customers, who develop and produce infectious disease diagnostic tests, by offering:2
A broad portfolio of high-quality IVD-critical raw materials
Flexible molecular systems and serology solutions
A reliable global supply chain
Customized solutions and expert support
The most comprehensive portfolio of raw materials in the IVD world
Medix Biochemica can supply over 5 000 products, including best-in-class:
We help customers address current and future infectious disease management challenges, while also enabling the scalability they need to react effectively in cases of increased demand, such as pandemics.2
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“Infectious diseases are the result of the presence and growth of a pathogenic (disease-causing) agent inside the body, and of the body’s reaction to that agent (infection). Such diseases are of great concern to the IVD industry due to their potential impact on any population – locally, regionally and globally.
Medix Biochemica provides a wide selection of high-quality antibodies, recombinant antigens and molecular diagnostic reagents to support infectious disease testing. Our optimized, industrial-scale manufacturing procedures, certified batch-to-batch consistency and expert customer service have made Medix Biochemica an ideal raw material supply partner for test manufacturers and other important customers in the in vitro diagnostic community.” - Medix Biochemica
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Pathogens (also called infectious agents) are the organisms that cause infectious diseases.
| Pathogen | Description | Common Diseases |
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Bacterium
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A single-celled organism that can cause infection by multiplying rapidly in the host’s body. |
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Virus
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Typically a piece of information (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a protein coating that invades the host’s healthy cells and multiplies there. |
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Fungus
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A microorganism that can cause disease when overgrowth/imbalance occurs. |
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Parasite
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Parasites such as worms can live in many areas of the human body and cause disease. |
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Prion
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Prion diseases occur when proteins normally found in the body misfold. This misfolding, which can be caused by eating or handling meat contaminated with prions, causes illness and leads to brain damage. Symptoms may take years to develop but, once they do, the disease progresses rapidly and is fatal. |
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How infectious diseases spread1,3
There are several ways that infectious diseases can spread from one person to another.
| Route of Transmission | Description | Disease Examples |
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Airborne
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Pathogens are carried by dust suspended in the air and then inhaled. |
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Respiratory (droplet)
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Diseases are spread by direct contact with:
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Food or water
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Diseases are spread by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. |
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Animal or insect
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Diseases are spread by contact with or bites from pets, livestock or insects like mosquitoes. |
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Sexual
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Diseases are transmitted by the exchange of body fluids during sexual contact. |
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Infectious disease challenges: A post-COVID perspective4
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we think about infectious diseases and the world remains alert for threats that could lead to future outbreaks.
Product spotlight: Validated Antibodies Enable Reliable Point-of-Care and IVD Testing for SARS-CoV-2
IVD can help to address some of the biggest healthcare threats causing the spread of disease right now, including:
International travel and commerce
Transporting people, animals and plants to new locations enables the spread of new infectious disease to these locations. This is especially true of air travel.
Microbial adaptation and change
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes gradually stop responding to the medications that are supposed to kill them. This happens because of the overuse or misuse of these medications. Lack of sanitation and poor disease-control measures also contribute to the spread of microbes and AMR.
Environmental changes
Some diseases are more likely to break out in areas affected by climate change. The higher temperatures and precipitation levels in these places can create a favorable environment for vector-borne diseases to spread.
Breakdown in public health measures and surveillanceIn cases where conflict or natural disasters lead to forced migration and/or reduced vaccination coverage, infectious diseases that were previously under control may re-emerge.
Read more: Managing Infectious Diseases in a Post-Covid World
Strengthening our infectious disease portfolio: Medix Biochemica acquires ViroStat5
In 2023, Medix Biochemica acquired the US-based ViroStat LLC – a global leader in infectious disease antibodies and antigens. This has significantly expanded our infectious disease portfolio.
ViroStat manufactures high-quality antibodies and antigens used for the detection of respiratory agents, sexually transmitted disease agents, gastrointestinal agents and food-borne pathogens.
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“The partnership with ViroStat provides Medix Biochemica with market-leading products for a broad range of infectious diseases and further strengthens our scientific capabilities and network in this largest diagnostic area of IVD antibodies and antigens. I am extremely excited about the portfolio and cultural fit between our teams and am looking forward to jointly growing our business to enable our customers to combat infectious diseases globally.”
- Steve Ferguson, CEO of Medix Biochemica
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Common infectious diseases
Respiratory syncytial virus6
RSV is a common, highly contagious seasonal virus that affects the respiratory system, causing cold-like symptoms. It can lead to more severe illnesses like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and infants, young children and older adults are most at risk.
RSV seasonality:
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Northern Hemisphere
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Peaks from September to January |
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Southern Hemisphere
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Peaks from March to June |
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Tropical and Subtropical regions
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Peaks during rainy season and high temperatures |
IVD plays a critical role in helping to manage RSV, reducing the magnitude of infection within a community by limiting infectious interactions through timely point-of-care (PoC) detection and diagnosis.
Sepsis
Sepsis – an extreme inflammatory response to infection – is a critical medical condition that kills millions of people every year, but it is also one of the most preventable causes of death worldwide.
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Bacterial infection9
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Viral infection9
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| Caused by bacteria (single cells that can survive inside or outside the body) |
Caused by viruses (need a host body to survive and cause infection by entering and multiplying inside the host's healthy cells)
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| Can be treated with antibiotics |
Cannot be treated with antibiotics
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By identifying whether an infection is bacterial or viral, diagnostics play a critical role in combating sepsis. Doctors can properly treat infections before sepsis occurs, which reduces the misuse or overuse of antimicrobial medication.
Sexually transmitted diseases
The COVID-19 lockdown disrupted routine healthcare and impacted screening and care for sexually transmitted diseases. Between 2019 and 2021, gonorrhea cases increased by 15% and primary and secondary syphilis cases increased by 38%.
IVD testing makes at-home diagnosis easier, meaning fewer patients will need access to clinics for testing. It is also helpful for patients who are worried about stigma or embarrassment.
Diseases linked to natural disasters
Natural disasters are closely linked to the spread of infectious diseases like cholera and malaria. There are several major risk factors which contribute to disease outbreaks in a natural disaster scenario:10
Displaced people living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions
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Poor sanitation, poor hygiene and a lack of access to safe drinking water and food
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 Overcrowded healthcare services and poor vaccine coverage |
Overcrowded healthcare services and poor vaccine coverage
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 Exposure to disease-carrying animals like mosquitos
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Exposure to floodwater while helping with post-disaster clean-up
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IVD PoC testing in these situations provides rapid diagnoses. This enables the effective treatment, surveillance and control of infectious diseases following natural disasters.
Read more: Natural Disasters – How Can we Help?
Many natural disasters occur as a result of climate change, meaning that climate change and the spread of infectious diseases are also closely linked. The rising temperatures that come with climate change are allowing temperature-sensitive diseases to survive in a wider range of conditions, over a wider range of locations.11
Because of its contribution to the spread of infectious diseases, the climate crisis is also worsening the problem of AMR. Both climate change and AMR are among the biggest global health challenges facing the world today.11,12
IVD Techniques for Testing for Infectious Diseases
| Immunodiagnosis | A technique that uses the ability of antibodies to bind to an antigen specifically. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is the most common tool used in immunodiagnostics13 |
| Molecular diagnosis | A technique that focuses on nucleic acids, like DNA and RNA, which are present in a tissue or fluid sample.14 Nucleic acid measurement techniques such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are widely used to diagnose infection due to their excellent sensitivity15 |
| Clinical chemistry | A group of diagnostic tests that use chemical reactions to measure the levels of various compounds and biomarkers in the body, aiding in diagnosis and health monitoring16 |
Our molecular diagnostics division, MedixMDx, offers a comprehensive suite of reagents and services for applications including qPCR and NGS, backed by the support of our highly experienced team.15 The MedixMDx product offering also includes a range of novel engineered DNA polymerases, giving researchers even greater flexibility in assay design.15
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About Medix Biochemica?Medix Biochemica is trusted by leading names in the IVD industry, working with 23 of the 25 biggest global IVD companies. We have offices around the globe, including our headquarters in Finland (since 1985), and bases in France, Germany, the USA and China. We produce and supply high-quality antibodies, antigens and other critical IVD raw materials, enabling our IVD customers to manufacture diagnostic tests and supporting materials to help healthcare professionals and patients around the world. |
Get in touch to find out what Medix Biochemica can do for you
References:
- Infectious disease: Types, causes & treatments. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17724-infectious-diseases.
1a. Pathogens: Definition, types, diseases, prevention, and more. Medical News Today. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/pathogens-definition.
1b. About prion diseases. Centers for Disease Control. Accessed July 10, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/prions/about/index.html. - Infectious diseases. Medix Biochemica. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://www.medixbiochemica.com/infectious-disease.
- Routes of transmission : Acute and communicable disease : State of Oregon. Oregon Health Authority. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/diseasesconditions/communicabledisease/pages/transmission.aspx#:~:text=Some%20disease%2Dcausing%20bacteria%20and,or%20mucus%20on%20unwashed%20hands.
- Managing infectious diseases in a post-COVID world. Medix Biochemica Blog. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/managing-infectious-diseases-in-a-post-covid-world.
- Medix Biochemica acquires ViroStat. Medix Biochemica Blog. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/medix-biochemica-acquires-virostat.
- Navigating RSV infections: From understanding to management. Medix Biochemica. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/navigating-rsv-infections-from-understanding-to-management.
- Sepsis infographic. Medix Biochemica. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://info.medixbiochemica.com/sepsis-infographic.
- Tackling the global sepsis crises: Saving lives with timely infection diagnosis. Medix Biochemica Blog. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/tackling-the-global-sepsis-crises-saving-lives-with-timely-infection-diagnosis.
- What is the difference between bacterial and viral infections? HealthDirect Australia. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bacterial-vs-viral-infection.
- Natural disasters – How can we help? Medix Biochemica Blog. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/natural-disasters-how-can-we-help.
- AMR and climate change. Medix Biochemica Blog. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/interplay-between-climate-change-and-amr.
- AMR and climate change infographic. Medix Biochemica Blog. https://articles.medixbiochemica.com/interplay-between-climate-change-and-amr.
- Immunodiagnostics - An emerging opportunity in biotechnology. Adamas University. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://adamasuniversity.ac.in/immunodiagnostics-an-emerging-opportunity-in-biotechnology/.
- Molecular diagnostics. National Cancer Institute. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/molecular-diagnostics.
- Tropical diseases. Medix Biochemica. Accessed July 6, 2024. https://info.medixbiochemica.com/tropical-diseases.
- Expert opinion. Anthony Austin, Global Marketing Manager, Medix Biochemica. July 2024.
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