Savelev SU, Perry JD, Bourke SJ, Jary H, Taylor R, Fisher AJ, Corris PA, Petrie M, De Soyza A.

Link to publication page: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21438899

Journal Ref: Lett Appl Microbiol. 2011 Jun;52(6):610-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2011.03049.x. Epub 2011 Apr 14.

Abstract:

AIMS:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether volatile organic compounds specific to Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be detected in clinical sputum specimens.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Patients were recruited from specialist bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis clinics. The gold standard for diagnosing Ps. aeruginosa infection was a positive sputum culture. About 72 sputum headspace samples taken from patients at risk of or known to have prior Ps. aeruginosa infection were analysed by solid phase micro-extraction mass spectrometry. 2-nonanone was a marker in Ps. aeruginosa in sputum headspace gas with sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 88%. A combination of volatile compounds, a sputum library of 17 compounds with 2-nonanone, increased sensitivity in the detection of Ps. aeruginosa to 91% with specificity of 88%.

CONCLUSIONS:

In contrast to the 48-hour turnaround for classical microbiological culture, these results were available within 1-2 h. These data demonstrate the potential for rapid and accurate diagnosis of Ps. aeruginosa infection from sputum samples.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:

2-Nonanone is a compound requiring further study in the exhaled breath as it may improve diagnostic of Ps. aeruginosa infection when combined with other reported volatile markers.