β-haemolytic streptococci were identified in bacteriological cultures from 14 of 24 chronic venous leg ulcers in 21 patients. Multi-element odour detection (MEOD) analysis demonstrated a significant difference in odour in those ulcers from which β-haemolytic streptococci were isolated (p<0.01). MEOD has potential to detect pathogenic organisms instantaneously in the clinical setting.

The AromaScan system was used to analyse vaginal swabs from 68 women attending a genitourinary clinic. Using clinical criteria, subjects were assessed for bacterial vaginosis. After training the AromaScan system to recognise patterns generated from four patients with and four patients without bacterial vaginosis, 16 of the 17 (94%) remaining subjects were correctly identified as having the condition. The positive predictive value of the test was 61.5%. These results indicate that the AromaScan technology may be of value as a screening test for bacterial vaginosis. (7 Clin Pathol 1997;50:790-791)

A pilot study using electronic aroma detection was performed over a six-month period to assess the aroma of chronic non-healing venous leg ulcers and the effect of appropriate antibiotic therapy on modification of the aroma. Deep infection with pathogenic organisms was found on biopsy culture in 13 out of 15 patients. Odour analysis was performed at weekly intervals on the ulcer dressings using an AromaScan instrument. Data points on the aroma maps moved from their pre-treatment presentation. Alterations in aroma data correlated well with the progress of the ulcers. Aroma analysis is shown to be a potential tool in monitoring the progress towards healing of chronic venous ulcers.

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