The smell of organ failure: exhaled volatile organic compounds as a diagnostic tool in early sepsis

Recognition of early sepsis is essential to allow timely initiation of adequate care, but can be challenging in the initial phases. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in the induction of organ failure and lead to a disturbance in VOCs. We aim to uncover the metabolic fingerprint in patients with early sepsis at the ED by measuring the VOCs in exhaled air at the bedside using SpiroNose. Next, we will assess whether these VOCs can predict the development of organ dysfunction in sepsis. Analysing VOCs in expired air will provide the potential to develop of new diagnostic tools.