[SS1-3] Potential of exhaled breath condensate analysis in the management of pulmonary infections
Exlaled breath condensate (EBC) is a lower respiratory tract-derived specimen that can be collected without invasion of the patient. Up to now, sputum examination has been the most important test to determine the pathogenic microorganisms in lower respiratory tract infections. However, in daily clinical practice, we often encounter cases in which the causative microorganism cannot be determined due to failure to collect adequate sputum. In such cases, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collection using a bronchoscope can be a powerful diagnostic tool, but the need for adequate medical resources and the relatively high invasion of the patient remain unresolved problems. Because it is not invasive to the patient, EBC also has the great advantage of being able to be evaluated repeatedly throughout the course of the disease. In this section we will discuss not only the direct detection of pathogenic microorganisms from EBC, but also the potential for monitoring treatment efficacy using disease-specific biomarkers, e.g. for tuberculosis.