Researchers have found that different types of lung bacteria can be identified from breath tests.
A new study, published in the Journal of Breath Research, analysed exhaled breath samples from mice infected with different types of bacteria that cause lung infections.
The researchers were looking for particles in the breath known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) given off by different bacteria. They were able to detect the mice with the bacteria and those that were uninfected.
The results could lead to a successful, non-invasive way of identifying lung infections.