A potential breath biomarker for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections - associated with the diminished lung functionality of cystic fibrosis (CF) sufferers - has been identified using
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Writing in BMC Pulmonary Medicine, researchers from the University of Otago, Leipzig University and Canterbury District Health Board in Christchurch, New Zealand, describe their use of GC-MS to investigate whether 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AA) is specific to Ps aeruginosa conditions.
They explain that 2-AA, a microbial volatile organic compound, is known to be responsible for the grape-like odour that accompanies Ps aeruginosa in CF patients.
Using a breath test to detect its presence, they found sensitivity of 93.8 per cent and specificity of 69.2 per cent when comparing a group of CF participants with a control population.
"Our results report 2-AA as a promising breath biomarker for the detection of Ps aeruginosa infections in the CF lung," they conclude.
The periodical addresses all aspects of pharmaceutical therapy for pulmonary diseases, including their diagnosis and prevention.
Product directory
.jpg)
