Bronchiectasis exacerbations: The role of atypical bacteria and respiratory syncytial virus

BACKGROUND:

Aside from the known role of common bacteria, there is a paucity of data regarding the possible role of atypical bacteria and viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the possible role of atypical bacteria (namely, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.

METHODS:

A cohort of 33 patients was studied over a two-year period (one year follow-up for each patient). Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae and RSV in bronchoalveolar lavage samples were performed during all visits. Antibody titres (immunoglobulin [Ig]M and IgG) against the aforementioned pathogens were also measured. In addition, cultures for common bacteria and mycobacteria were performed from the bronchoalveolar lavage samples.

RESULTS:

Fifteen patients experienced a total of 19 exacerbations during the study period. Although RSV was detected by polymerase chain reaction during stable visits in four patients, it was never detected during an exacerbation. M pneumoniae and C pneumoniae were never detected at stable visits or during exacerbations. IgM antibody titres for these three pathogens were negative in all patient visits.

CONCLUSIONS:

Atypical pathogens and RSV did not appear to be causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.     

Bronchiectasis in severe asthma and asthmatic components in bronchiectasis

Asthma and bronchiectasis are different diseases; however, differentiating them can be difficult because they share several symptomatic and physiological similarities. Approximately 20% of patients with bronchiectasis have eosinophilic inflammation, 34% show wheezing, and 7–46% have comorbid asthma, although comorbidity with severe asthma may be limited as shown in 3.3% of cases of bronchiectasis. Meanwhile, 25–68% of patients with severe asthma have comorbid bronchiectasis, and at least two phenotypes are present in the accompanying bronchiectasis: eosinophilic bronchiectasis and chronic infectious bronchiolitis/bronchiectasis. Recent studies show that type-2-targeted biologics are effective for eosinophilic bronchiectasis and theoretically effective for some of the remaining cases when used before oral corticosteroids. Further studies are needed to identify treatment strategies for severe asthma with comorbid bronchiectasis and vice versa.     

Outcome in Adult Bronchiectasis

The outcome in adult bronchiectasis has not been well described; in particular there has been a lack of long-term prospective studies. Therefore a follow-up study was performed to assess outcome in bronchiectasis in a cohort of adult patients. One hundred-and-one sequential adults, 33 male and 68 female; age 54 ± 14 years (mean ± SD) with bronchiectasis had a clinical assessment and spirometry performed. All were non-smokers and 84 were classified as having idiopathic disease. Patients were commenced on a standardized treatment regime and followed up for a minimum period of 2 years. On their last review when patients were clinically stable, a repeat clinical assessment and spirometry was performed and compared with the initial review. The primary endpoints measured were symptoms and FEV₁. Subjects were followed up for 8.0 ± 4.9 years. Clinical review showed that the patients had persistent symptoms that, in the case of dyspnea and sputum volume, were worse on follow-up. Spirometry showed a significant decline in FEV₁ over the follow-up period with an average loss of 49 ml per year. This study showed in this group of predominantly female adult patients with bronchiectasis followed up for 8 years, patients had persistent symptoms and an excess loss in FEV₁.     

Prognostic Value of Frequent Exacerbations in Bronchiectasis: The Relationship With Disease Severity

Introduction

Bronchiectasis is a very heterogeneous disease but some homogeneous groups with similar clinical characteristics and prognosis have been identified. Exacerbations have been shown to have a negative impact on the natural history of bronchiectasis. The objective of this study was to identify the definition and characteristics of the “frequent exacerbator patient” with the best prognostic value and its relationship with the severity of bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis in secondary care: a comprehensive profile of a neglected disease

Background: Bronchiectasis is poorly characterised in secondary care. Methods: Over 6 months, 410 bronchiectasis patients attended our clinics. One hundred randomly selected patients were characterised in detail. Results: Patients had a mean and standard error of mean (S.E.M.) age of 57 (2) years and a median and interquartile range (IQR) of three (two to four) reviews in the last 12 months. Aetiologies identified included tuberculosis (n=15), childhood pneumonia (n=7), fibrosis (n=6), connective tissue disease (n=6), whooping cough (n=5), childhood measles (n=4) and others (n=5). There was widespread use of inhaled therapy. Treatments included oral antibiotics (n=77), corticosteroid courses (n=27) and intravenous antimicrobials (n=27, 12 domicillary) in the last year. Thirty patients had hospital admissions (13 because of the inability to administer domicillary antibiotics). Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas spp. were the commonest bacterial isolates. Patients culturing Pseudomonas spp. were older and had had more reviews and intravenous antibiotic courses. Conclusions: Bronchiectasis imposes a considerable burden on hospital services. Patients culturing Pseudomonas spp. impose a greater burden. Aetiology is often unknown. Therapies with unproven benefit are often used.     

支气管扩张继发肺部真菌感染危险因素分析

目的 分析支气管扩张继发肺部真菌感染的危险因素.方法 采用回顾性病例对照分析方法,收集我院呼吸内科住院期间支气管扩张继发肺部真菌感染28例作为真菌感染组,随机抽取同期呼吸内科住院的无真菌感染支气管扩张患者28例作为对照组,对比分析两组患者的临床资料.结果 血清白蛋白水平、住院时间及抗生素使用时间是支气管扩张继发肺部真菌感染的主要诱因,两组间比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 血清白蛋白水平、住院时间及抗生素使用时间是支气管扩张继发肺部真菌感染的危险因素.     

肺段支气管剔除治疗支气管扩张症的疗效观察

目的观察肺段支气管剔除治疗支气管扩张症的疗效。方法对我院30例支气管扩张症患者采用肺段支气管剔除术进行治疗。结果共剔除肺段支气管64支。术中失血量300～600ml,平均380ml,手术当天胸腔引流量350～550ml,无手术死亡病例。胸腔引流管术后第3～5天拔除。术后胸部X线片示肺膨胀良好,无残腔。术后1例出现肺不张,经纤维支气管镜吸痰后肺复张。住院2～3周均痊愈出院。随访6个月,患者症状消失,复查血气分析检查均正常,胸部X线片示肺膨胀良好,未发现残腔、积液。无1例复发。结论只要掌握好手术条件,采用肺段支气管剔除术代替肺段切除术治疗支气管扩张症是可行的,手术方法简单,不仅切除了病变支气管,出血少,减少了术后并发症,克服了以往术式的不足。值得临床推广。     

Azithromycine et pathologies bronchiques chroniques : quels patients ? Quels bénéfices ? Quelles modalités ?

Azithromycin is a macrolide widely used in chronic bronchial diseases due to its anti-inflammatory properties. This treatment is prescribed to patients with bronchiectasis, asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who present more than 3 exacerbations per year or a deterioration of respiratory function despite an optimal treatment. Macrolides decrease the number of exacerbation but azythromycine must be prescribed carefully. Indeed, it involves potential cardiovascular and otological toxicities and the emergence of resistant bacteria. In addition, studies remain insufficient to establish the optimal dosage and duration of azithromycine.     

Bronchiectasis: new approaches to diagnosis and management

Non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis is a common, potentially serious, condition. Further investigations should be performed in an attempt to identify the underlying cause because it may lead to a change in therapy and have significant prognostic implications. MRI is being investigated as a radiation free alternative to high-resolution CT scan of the chest. Many of the treatment recommendations for non-CF bronchiectasis have not been studied in randomized controlled trials but have been extrapolated from the management recommendations for CF. Studies are beginning to inform decisions regarding the management of non-CF bronchiectasis, and an understanding of the best treatment options is beginning to emerge.     

哮喘与慢性支气管炎气道炎症的临床病理对比性研究

目的探讨哮喘病理学特点。比较哮喘与慢性支气管炎气道炎症的病理异同。为临床上鉴别诊断提供病理形态学依据。避免盲目治疗。方法经纤维支气管镜行大气道粘膜活检，将１４例哮喘和１３例慢性支气管炎患者的支气管粘膜活检组织的病理改变，做定量计分及统计学处理并进行比较。电镜下观察肥大细胞的功能状态。结果哮喘和慢性支气管炎患者气道粘膜上皮均有损害，粘膜下层有多种炎性细胞浸润及组织结构的病理改变。但哮喘组嗜酸性粒细胞、肥大细胞计数每高倍视野依次为１６±２５，３５±２７与慢性支气管炎组（１２±１７、１１±１４）比较，差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１），电镜下可见到肥大细胞脱颗粒现象。其基底膜早期增厚（Ｐ＜０．０５），平滑肌增厚为其特征性病理改变。而慢性支气管炎患者的气道粘膜病理改变则与其不同，嗜酸性粒细胞＜１．２个／ＨＰ和肥大细胞＜１１个／ＨＰ，电镜下未见到肥大细胞脱颗粒现象。结论哮喘和慢性支气管炎（包括慢性喘息型支气管炎）均为气道慢性炎症，但气道粘膜病理改变存在明显差异。气道阻力增高原因不同，是两种疾病。经纤维支气管镜大气道粘膜活检病理检查，对两种疾病的鉴别有重要的临床意义。     

慢性咳嗽新概念：慢性咳嗽高反应综合征

慢性咳嗽的病因学分类在临床运用当中存在一定困难。新近提出慢性咳嗽高反应综合征的概念,它是一类具有咳嗽反射高反应性的不同临床情况的统一诊断。本文将对慢性咳嗽高反应综合征这一概念作一综述。