Pneumonia is a respiratory disease that can be caused by many different types of microbes, including bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and viruses like influenza. The diversity of microbes that can cause pneumonia poses a problem for treatment, as the exact cause is difficult to detect and treating viral influenza with antibiotics would be ineffective, as well as contribute to antibiotic resistance. A team of researchers at MIT have developed new nanoparticle sensors that could help distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia, and lead to better treatment for patients while limiting unnecessary antibiotic use.
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