Breath Analysis in ICU for Diagnosis of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breath Analysis in Intensive Care: Proof of Concept for Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
IRAS ID
177489
Contact name
Pouline van Oort
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Critically ill and/or unstable patients are treated and monitored on Intensive Care Units (ICUs) when they have life threatening organ dysfunction, for example when they are unable to breathe on their own. Medical equipment supports organ function until the patient recovers, and mechanical ventilators (‘life support machines’) support breathing. While this technology is effective, its use can be associated with the development of life-threatening lung infection (pneumonia) as a complication. Pneumonia can be treated quickly and effectively with antibiotic drugs. However, because patients on ventilators are already ill, it is not possible to diagnose pneumonia quickly and accurately. Therefore many mechanically ventilated patients will also receive antibiotic treatments ‘just in case’ so that antibiotics will be used unnecessarily. A consequence of antibiotic overuse is that infecting bugs (microorganisms) become resistant so that it will be difficult to treat life- threatening pneumonia in the future. We need to develop new technologies to help decide quickly who has developed pneumonia during mechanical ventilation. Recently, we have discovered that it is feasible and safe to capture and measure molecules in the breath of patients who are mechanically ventilated. The chemical profiles appear to distinguish patients acquiring dangerous lung micro-organisms. This exciting finding implies that we could use these chemical patterns to determine quickly who is likely to require antibiotics and who does not. To progress this idea, we now wish to use our breath capture system in ICU ventilated patients suspected of developing pneumonia and, using analysis already developed in our laboratories, we will seek proof that these chemicals can distinguish between the presence and absence of pneumonia. At project completion we will be able to decide whether our innovation is ready for clinical testing across NHS ICUs.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0393
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion