Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and assessment of treatment response through analyses of volatile compound patterns in exhaled breath samples

Nicola M Zetola; Chawangwa Modongo; Ogopotse Matsiri; Tsaone Tamuhla; Bontle Mbongwe; Keikantse Matlhagela; Enoch Sepako; Alexandro Catini; Giorgio Sirugo; Eugenio Martinelli; Roberto Paolesse; Corrado Di Natale

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2016.12.006

Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and assessment of treatment response through analyses of volatile compound patterns in exhaled breath samples

J Infect. 2017 Apr;74(4):367-376. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.12.006. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Centro di Ricerca, Ospedale San Pietro Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹⁰ Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹¹ Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹² Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Objectives: We determined the performance of a sensor array (an electronic nose) made of 8 metalloporphyrins coated quartz microbalances sensors for the diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) using exhaled breath samples.

Methods: TB cases and healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. Signals from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath samples were measured at days 0, 2, 7, 14, and 30 of TB therapy and correlated with clinical and microbiological measurements.

Results: Fifty one pulmonary TB cases and 20 healthy HIV-uninfected controls were enrolled in the study. 31 (61%) of the 51 pulmonary TB cases were coinfected with HIV. At day 0 (before TB treatment initiation) the sensitivity of our device was estimated at 94.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83.8-98.8%) and specificity was 90.0% (95% CI, 68.3-98.8%) for distinguishing TB cases from controls. Time-dependent changes in the breath signals were identified as time on TB treatment progressed. Time-dependent signal changes were more pronounced among HIV-uninfected patients.

Conclusion: The identification of VOCs' signals in breath samples using a sensor array achieved high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of TB and allowed following signal changes during TB treatment.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Diagnosis; HIV/AIDS; Sensors; Tuberculosis; Volatile organic compounds.

Publication types

Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
Biomarkers
Breath Tests
Coinfection
Disease Progression
Electronic Nose*
Exhalation
Female
HIV Infections / complications
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Sputum / microbiology
Treatment Outcome
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / complications
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*

Substances

Antitubercular Agents
Biomarkers
Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding