Rapid breath test to identify pneumonia bacteria and antibiotic resistance
Rapid, Breath Volatile Metabolite-Based Diagnosis, Species Identification, and Antibiotic Resistance Profiling in Bacterial Pneumonia
A quick, noninvasive breath test for people with suspected lung infection that aims to identify the bacteria causing pneumonia and which antibiotics are likely to work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261047 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a small, portable breath analyzer (gas chromatography–differential mobility spectrometry, GC‑DMS) to collect and analyze volatile molecules from patients' exhaled breath. They will compare breath signatures to standard laboratory tests and to how bacteria respond to antibiotics to learn which breath patterns match specific species and resistant strains. The work builds on animal proof-of-concept data and will be tested in people with acute respiratory infections to deliver results within hours. The aim is a bedside tool that can guide faster, more accurate antibiotic decisions without invasive sampling.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected bacterial pneumonia or acute respiratory infections who can provide breath samples, such as patients seen in the emergency department or hospital, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with infections that are not lung-related, those with purely viral illnesses, or individuals unable to provide breath samples (for example certain ventilated patients) may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let doctors choose the right antibiotic faster and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies and some small human breath-analysis projects show promise, but using breath to identify species and antibiotic resistance is still largely unproven in routine clinical care.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koo, Sophia — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Koo, Sophia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.