Scientists have discovered that lung infections could be diagnosed through a simple breath test. The test, from the Journal of Breath Research, produces a ‘breath-print’ which can identify the smell of different lung bacteria. The test has the potential to reduce the diagnosis time of lung infections from weeks to minutes and scientists have already developed breath tests that can diagnose asthma and cancer.
The traditional method of diagnosing bacterial lung infections requires collecting a sample from the patient. This sample is then used to grow bacteria in the lab. Once the bacteria are grown they can then be classified and studied to see how they respond to antibiotics. This time consuming process can be almost entirely reduced by the breath test which has the additional advantage of being non-invasive, as well as very fast.
Researchers from the University of Vermont conducted the study by analysing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) given off by different bacteria found in exhaled breath. They infected mice with two bacteria that are commonly found in lung infections. After 24 hours they sampled the breath of the mice and found a “statistically significant” difference in breath profiles of the mice infected with the bacteria and the mice that were not.
The researchers used a technique called secondary electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry to analyse the VOCs. This technique can detect very small elements of the chemicals found in the breath of the mice.
Breath analysis is an emerging field of science that could very quickly take over from the traditional methods of diagnosing lung infections. The study has currently only taken place on mice but scientists are now looking to move the process forward to trial it on human patients. If they can produce results that are similar it could be a very significant positive step towards a faster and cheaper way to diagnose asthma, cancer and many other lung infections.
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