Untargeted molecular analysis of exhaled breath as a diagnostic test for ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (BreathDx)

Untargeted molecular analysis of exhaled breath as a diagnostic test for ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (BreathDx)

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: van Oort, PM, Nijsen, TM, White, IR, Knobel, HH, Felton, T, Rattray, N, Lawal, O, Bulut, M, Ahmed, W, Artigas, A, Povoa, PR, Martin-Loeches, I, Weda, H, Goodacre, R, Schultz, MJ, Dark, PM, Fowler, SJ, Bos, LD
Other Authors: BreathDx Consortium
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021
Description
Summary: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.

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