Clinical Utility of AI-Integrated Metabolomic and Proteomic Signatures for Guiding Early Antibiotic Therapy in Sepsis

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Rizma Tariq
Muhammad Shahzaib
Fazeela Abbas
Muhammad Hasnat
Eisha Tur Raazia
Iqra Walayat

Abstract

Background: Rapid selection of appropriate antimicrobial therapy in sepsis is limited by diagnostic uncertainty during the early hours of critical illness. Artificial intelligence-assisted integration of metabolomic and proteomic data may provide earlier biologically informed decision support. Objective: To evaluate whether AI-guided multi-omic diagnostics improve the timeliness of appropriate antimicrobial therapy compared with standard care in sepsis. Methods: This single-center parallel-group randomized controlled trial enrolled 96 adults with sepsis and allocated 48 participants per group. Ninety participants had evaluable outcome data. The intervention combined rapid metabolomic and proteomic profiling with AI-assisted clinical decision support. The primary outcomes were appropriate targeted therapy within 12 hours and time to appropriate treatment. Results: Appropriate therapy within 12 hours was achieved in 37/45 (82.2%) intervention participants versus 20/45 (44.4%) controls (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.30–2.64; p<0.001). Mean time to appropriate therapy was 5.8 versus 14.2 hours. SOFA scores decreased from 8.3 ± 2.0 to 3.1 ± 1.4 versus 8.5 ± 2.2 to 5.4 ± 1.8, with a significant group-by-time interaction (p<0.001). ICU stay was 7.2 versus 10.5 days, while 28-day mortality was 13.3% versus 31.1%. Conclusion: AI-guided multi-omic decision support improved early appropriate antimicrobial treatment and was associated with more favorable clinical trajectories

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[1]
Rizma Tariq et al. 2026. Clinical Utility of AI-Integrated Metabolomic and Proteomic Signatures for Guiding Early Antibiotic Therapy in Sepsis. Journal of Health, Wellness and Community Research. 4, 2 (Jan. 2026), 1–12. DOI:https://doi.org/10.61919/1czvx127.

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