« Previous AbstractNovel diagnostics: progress toward a breath test for invasive Aspergillus fumigatus    Next AbstractIdentification of protein pheromones that promote aggressive behaviour »

Curr Opin Pulm Med

Title:		Developments in novel breath tests for bacterial and fungal pulmonary infection
Author(s):		Chambers ST; Scott-Thomas A; Epton M;
Address:		"Department of Pathology, University of Otago, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. Steve.Chambers@cdhb.govt.nz"
Journal Title:		Curr Opin Pulm Med
Year:		2012
Volume:		18
Issue:		3
Page Number:		228 - 232
DOI:		10.1097/MCP.0b013e328351f98b
ISSN/ISBN:		1531-6971 (Electronic) 1070-5287 (Linking)
Abstract:		"PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Breath testing has developed over the last 20 years. New techniques that can identify fingerprints for specific diseases and specific markers of respiratory pathogens have been applied to breath analysis. This review discusses the recent advances in breath analysis for the diagnosis of bacterial and fungal lower respiratory tract infections. RECENT FINDINGS: The current techniques continue to develop rapidly, but preconcentration techniques are needed to analyse many target volatile organic compounds for most systems. Breath testing with an electronic nose is promising for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), and specific volatiles identifiable by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry have been identified in breath for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus, but are found at very low concentrations in breath. Contamination from the environment is an ongoing confounding influence. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is disappointing as a diagnostic sample. SUMMARY: Careful attention needs to be paid to the sensitivity and specificity of a technique and confounding from the environment. The role of technologies such as selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry is emerging. The electronic nose requires further validation for TB. The identification of specific microbial biomarkers aids the quest for improved accuracy. EBC is currently of limited value"
Keywords:		"Bacterial Infections/diagnosis Biomarkers/analysis Breath Tests/*methods Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/*methods Humans Lung Diseases, Fungal/diagnosis Pneumonia/diagnosis Respiratory Tract Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology Sensitivity and Specific;"
Notes:		"MedlineChambers, Stephen T Scott-Thomas, Amy Epton, Michael eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2012/03/01 Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2012 May; 18(3):228-32. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e328351f98b"