Ahsan Akram and colleagues have created a fluorescent imaging probe that can quickly and accurately detect hard-to-trace Gram-negative bacteria (one of the major bacterial groups) in human lungs within minutes. Their first-in-human study, where they successfully used the imaging tool to safely detect infections in hospital patients undergoing ventilation, could streamline the diagnosis of bacterial lung infections and more accurately assess if antibiotics are needed. Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who are placed on ventilators can be especially vulnerable to hospital-acquired gram-negative bacterial respiratory infections like pneumonia, underscoring an urgent need for faster diagnosis and better patient outcomes. However, existing approaches such as lung biopsies are risky procedures in ventilated patients, and sequencing techniques are overly sensitive.

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