Untargeted Molecular Analysis of Exhaled Breath as a Diagnostic Test for Ventilator-Associated Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (BreathDx).

Abstract

Patients suspected of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTIs) commonly receive broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy unnecessarily. We tested whether exhaled breath analysis can discriminate between patients suspected of VA-LRTI with confirmed infection, from patients with negative cultures. Breath from 108 patients suspected of VA-LRTI was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The breath test had a sensitivity of 98% at a specificity of 49%, confirmed with a second analytical method. The breath test had a negative predictive value of 96% and excluded pneumonia in half of the patients with negative cultures. Trial registration number: UKCRN ID number 19086, registered May 2015.

• Authors: Pouline Mp van Oort, Tamara M Nijsen, Iain R White, Hugo H Knobel, Timothy Felton, Nicholas Rattray, Oluwasola Lawal, Murtaza Bulut, Waqar Ahmed, Antonio Artigas, Pedro R Povoa, Ignacio Martin-Loeches, Hans Weda, Royston Goodacre, Marcus J Schultz, Paul M Dark, Stephen J Fowler, Lieuwe D Bos, BreathDx Consortium
• Journal: Thorax (Thorax) Vol. 77 Issue 1 Pg. 79-81 (01 2022) ISSN: 1468-3296 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34088787 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.

Topics

• Breath Tests
• Diagnostic Tests, Routine
• Exhalation
• Humans
• Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated
• Respiratory Tract Infections (diagnosis)
• Ventilators, Mechanical