Investigation of Helicobacter pylori Through C₂H₄ and CO₂ Breath Markers Using Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) is a bacterium that infects the stomach and can lead to conditions like peptic ulcers, chronic gastric inflammation, and stomach cancer. A key feature of H. pylori is urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonium carbonate. Various methods exist for diagnosing H. pylori infections, including breath tests. This study expands on previous research that focused on ammonia detection by introducing a novel approach using photoacoustic spectroscopy to measure ethylene and carbon dioxide levels in the breath of infected individuals. Our results show significant differences in gas concentrations between H. pylori -infected individuals and healthy controls. Ethylene concentrations were 113.64% higher, and carbon dioxide levels were 433.47% higher in infected participants, suggesting that both gases may serve as biomarkers for H. pylori detection.