Researchers in Europe are testing the use of an "electronic nose" that can differentiate between healthy urine specimens and specimens infected with Escherichia coli, according to a Medscape report.
Researchers presented the results of the pilot study at the European Association of Urology 29th Annual Congress.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
Bacteria and other pathogens produce volatile organic compounds that release a distinct smell, which the electronic nose can then detect and identify.
In the pilot study, the electronic nose correctly classified 90.9 percent of the volatile organic compounds, according to the report.
Researchers suggest this type of diagnosis could help expedite treatment processes. "The EAU guidelines stipulate that, ideally, we should have a positive urine culture before prescribing antibiotics, but this takes time and skilled personnel," Emmanuel Johnson, MD, one of the researchers, said in the report. "We are working on transferring our method to a palm-held bedside device. That way we could select the correct treatment in about 20 minutes."
However, Dr. Johnson mentioned that the severity and significance of bacterial presence still has to be determined, saying that if the patient is unlikely to develop a severe infection, the following treatment methods would be different than if the pathogen prevented a life-threatening infection.
More Articles on Infection Control:
Magee-Women's Hospital Confirms 2 MRSA Cases in Newborns
Seattle Children's Researcher Receives $5.3M Grant to ID, Track Flu Strains
Study: Homes Are Reservoirs for MRSA