Head-Out Spirometry Accurately Monitors the Course of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Lung Infection in Mice

Classic infection models in rodents use lethal doses of bacteria as inocula, thus creating models which are rarely comparable to the clinical situation. Moreover, single time-point evaluation requires killing of the animals, necessitating large numbers of animals. Longitudinal parameters such as temperature appear to have a relatively low accuracy. Spirometry might be an accurate method to assess the course of a bacterial lung infection without the necessity to sacrifice the animals.