A team of international researchers have decoded the bacteria responsible for out-of-hospital pneumonia using lipids. The findings, published in Nature, could help to prevent and treat this type of pneumonia, which is a leading cause of death in older adults.

The research team found that the bacteria responsible for out-of-hospital pneumonia was a combination of two bacteria: Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenzae, which is also a common cause of respiratory infections. To decode the bacteria, the team used a technique called lipidomic analysis, which allowed them to identify the lipids on the surface of the bacteria. By studying these lipids, they were able to determine the exact combination of bacteria responsible for the pneumonia.

This groundbreaking research is a major step forward in understanding and treating out-of-hospital pneumonia. The findings could help to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this serious disease.

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source: Phys.org