title: Detection of Staphylococcus aureus in cystic fibrosis patients using breath VOC profiles.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common bacterium infecting children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Since current detection methods are difficult to perform in children, there is need for an alternative. This proof of concept study investigates whether breath profiles can discriminate between S. aureus infected and non-infected CF patients based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We collected exhaled breath of CF patients with and without S. aureus airways infections in which VOCs were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We classified these VOC profiles with sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis. Multivariate breath VOC profiles discriminated infected from non-infected CF patients with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (80%). We identified the nine compounds most important for this discrimination. We successfully detected S. aureus infection in CF patients, using breath VOC profiles. Nine highlighted compounds can be used as a focus point in further biomarker identification research. The results show considerable potential for non-invasive diagnosis of airway infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Department of Paediatrics, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Authors contributed equally to this work.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Neerincx
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Geurts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tiemes
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: F J M
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Harren
authors.forename: L A J
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kluijtmans
authors.forename: P J F M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Merkus
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cristescu
authors.forename: L M C
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Buydens
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wevers
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds