Quick breath test offers promising alternative for the therapeutic monitoring of antibiotic concentrations

Scientists at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland have developed a new technique using exhaled breath as an alternative to blood draw for the therapeutic monitoring of antibiotics. 

The concentrations of antibiotics in patients with severe infections and in intensive care units are measured via therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). These patients may metabolize drugs differently and as such may not respond to conventional doses of antibiotics or be more likely to develop toxic side effects, requiring higher or lower doses, respectively. The TDM results allow the dosage(s) of antibiotics to be tailored to their needs.