Electronic nose can diagnose respiratory infections

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 24 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Scientists in the USA have developed an electronic nose that can diagnose respiratory infections by comparing smell prints from the breath of a patient with standardised readings.

This will help doctors decide whether their patients need antibiotics as the device can tell them whether there is a bacterial infection present.

According to the scientists, Pennsylvania University, USA, this device is not only easier and cheaper to use than current methods, is also cheaper.

As all doctors know, it is often hard to tell the difference between common respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. A misdiagnosis can lead to incorrect prescribing.

The scientists say that this electronic nose will help doctors get it right.

Just as we have unique fingerprints, bacteria have unique mixtures of exhaled gas. The 'e-nose' can identify these mixtures. It can tell the doctors whether they should be using an antibiotic, and if so, which one to use.

The team, led by Dr. Erica Thaler, have carried out three successful trials on humans.

In the first two studies, the scientists studied patients with pneumonia. The patients were on ventilators in a surgical intensive care unit. The electronic nose diagnosed 92% of the pneumonia cases effectively. It distinguished 13 positive cases from 12 other patients who did not have this infection.

In the third trial, the researchers used the e-nose to diagnose sinusitis in outpatient clinics. It effectively diagnosed 82% of cases among 22 patients, 50% with the infection and 50% without.

Dr Thaler said "And given that we can apply this sensory analysis to the detection of pneumonia and sinusitis, then, hopefully, it can be applied to common bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract."

Studies are also being carried out to see how effective this e-nose might be in diagnosing lung cancer and liver and kidney diseases.

This study was presented at the annual meeting of the Triologic and the American Broncho-Esophagological Association.

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