By Elodie Vaz | Published on March 26, 2026 | 4 min read
Infectious
diseases remain one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. In this
context, the rapid identification of bacterial infections is a critical
challenge, especially as rising antimicrobial resistance requires early and
targeted therapeutic decisions. However, current diagnostic tools—such as blood
tests, imaging, microbiological cultures, or molecular diagnostics—are limited
by delays, cost, or lack of specificity.
Toward
immediate, non-invasive diagnosis
A study published on March 18 in
ACS Central Science proposes an
innovative alternative: breath tests capable of detecting bacterial infections
within minutes. The goal is to extend and generalize the principle already used
for diagnosing
Helicobacter pylori, adapting it to a broader range of
pathogens.
As
Professor David Wilson, co-author of the study, explained in a press release:
“In designing this study, we were motivated by an emerging trend in clinical
practice: patients and healthcare providers want rapid answers to guide
treatment decisions.” He added: “If a patient presents to the emergency
department or an acute care setting, we hope that a diagnosis of acute
bacterial infection can be made as quickly as possible.”
A
metabolic approach based on carbon-13
Researchers developed a prototype based on the administration of
carbon-13–labeled substrates, including sugars and polyols. These compounds
have a key property: they are metabolized by bacteria but largely ignored by
human cells.
After
administration, bacteria convert these substrates into labeled carbon dioxide,
which can be detected in exhaled breath. Several compounds capable of
generating this signal were identified in laboratory settings. The signal is
then measured using nondispersive infrared spectroscopy, a simple technique
potentially compatible with portable devices.
Rapid
and discriminatory results in animal models
Experiments conducted in mice yielded promising results. In animals with
pneumonia or infections of the blood, muscles, or bones, administration of
labeled compounds led to a rapid increase in labeled carbon dioxide in breath.
This signal typically appeared within the first ten minutes after injection.
In
contrast, healthy mice showed very low or undetectable levels of carbon-13 in
exhaled air. This clear difference suggests strong discriminatory power between
infectious and non-infectious states.
The study
also highlights potential for therapeutic monitoring. In a model of
Escherichia
coli infection, the amount of labeled carbon dioxide decreased during
antibiotic treatment, in parallel with reductions in bacterial load.
A
technology with multiple clinical applications
Beyond diagnostic speed, this approach offers several advantages: it is
non-invasive, relies on compounds considered safe, and could be deployed via
portable devices. These features make it a strong candidate for use in
emergency medicine or outpatient care.
Although
the protocol still requires optimization and results must be confirmed in
humans, this proof of concept suggests a major shift in the management of
bacterial infections.
A new
era for infection diagnosis?
By enabling near-immediate detection and potentially real-time monitoring of
treatment efficacy, breath tests could transform clinical practice. They would
address the growing need for rapid diagnostics in the context of antimicrobial
resistance.
In the long
term, this technology could support a more responsive and personalized form of
medicine, where a simple breath test is sufficient to guide therapeutic
decisions. If confirmed, this approach could fundamentally redefine diagnostic
strategies for infectious diseases.
Read
next: Allergies and respiratory
infections: toward a universal respiratory vaccine?
About the Author – Elodie Vaz
Health journalist, CFPJ graduate (2023).
Élodie explores the marks diseases leave on bodies and, more broadly, on
human life. A registered nurse since 2010, she spent twelve years at patients’
bedsides before exchanging her stethoscope for a notebook. She now investigates
the links between environment and health, convinced that the vitality of life
cannot be reduced to that of humans alone.
