2013 has barely begun and already, researchers are publishing discoveries that sound like yesterday’s science fiction transformed into today’s technology.  On January 11, in IOP Publishing’s Journal of Breath Research, scientists released findings that indicate a “breath test” with the ability distinguish between both different types of bacteria, and separate strains of the same bacteria.

For now, the research phase involves extensive testing is the lungs of mice by analyzing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath. (This blog has explained VOCs previously. They are gaining in importance for diagnostic tools.)

Researchers are optimistic that a simple breath test could help reduce the diagnosis time of lung infections.

Did You Know Breath Test Reveals More Than Sobriety?

Traditional methods for diagnosing bacteria, especially tuberculosis, take days or weeks while cultures are grown.

“This whole process can take days for some of the common bacteria and even weeks for the causative agent for tuberculosis. Breath analysis would reduce the time-to-diagnosis to just minutes.” There are a multitude of advantages to this simple technology.

Breath tests are inexpensive and easy to do. They are non-invasive. Researchers have already established breath-based diagnostics for multiple cancers, asthma and diabete.This study his study, at the University of Vermont, scientists “analyzed the VOCs given off by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, both of which are common in acute and chronic lung infections.”

Readers might like to click and study the details of how men and mice used electro spray ionization mass spectrometry to test the new breathing test.

The researchers hypothesize that bacteria in the lungs produce unique VOCs that are not found in regular human breath due to their differing metabolism.

“We have strong evidence that we can distinguish between bacterial infections of the lung in mice very effectively using the breathprint SESI-MS approach and I suspect that we will also be able to distinguish between bacterial, viral and fungal infections of the lung.” Human trials will begin soon.

Hill summarized,” To that end, we are now collaborating with colleagues to sample patients in order to demonstrate the strengths, as well as limitations, of breath analysis more comprehensively,”

More Lung News:  Your Lungs Will Love The Health Initiative of NASCAR

DRIVE4COPD is a multi-year public campaign health initiative to screen the millions of people who may be at risk for COPD. Do you know that as many as 24 million Americans may have COPD, but approximately half don’t know it, and remain undiagnosed. NASCAR and Sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., want to put the brakes on COPD through education, research and charity commitments.

“DRIVE4COPD  aims to help people identify symptoms of COPD and take action. This large-scale education and awareness campaign is working to help bring COPD to the forefront.”

1. The Florida Lung Doctors Say:   Visit the site and take the five-question screener to identify your risk for COPD. This validated COPD Population Screener™ can be accessed here at DRIVE4COPD.ORG.

2. The Florida Lung Doctors Add:  If you score high, as at risk for COPD, on this screener-questionairre, we encourage you to talk to your health-care professional or call the Florida Lung Doctors in Orlando Florida.

3. Notice the campaign icon of a pinwheel. This breezy toy symbolizes the movement and the momentum of DRIVE4COPD. With the help of NASCA and other great groups and individuals like you, we are “racing to find people who may be at risk and driving to change the way people think about COPD.”  The symbol begs the question:  How would you feel if you did not have enough air in one breath to lightly turn the blades of this light child’s toy?

As 2013 continues, the Florida Lung Doctors re-new their their pledge to keep you informed of the latest in treatment, research and diagnosis of diseases of the respiratory system. As we have said before, such knowledge is vital to your life and breath!