Primary ciliary dyskinesia patients have the same P. aeruginosa clone in sinuses and lungs

[摘要] Similar to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis, patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are prone to recurrent or chronic lung infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection has a prevalence of up to 39% in patients with PCD [1] and is associated with structural damage, affecting lung function. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infection is challenging because P. aeruginosa adapts to the host environment through genotypic/phenotypic changes, promoting a reduced immune response [2]. We have found previously that the paranasal sinuses in patients with CF act as bacterial reservoirs where P. aeruginosa adapts and recolonises P. aeruginosa-eradicated lungs [3, 4]. In addition, our group has reported P. aeruginosa-positive cultures from the upper and lower airways of patients with PCD [5]. However, it was unclear whether the paranasal sinuses of patients with PCD also act as bacterial reservoirs. We are investigating whether the same P. aeruginosa clone type colonises both the paranasal sinuses and the lungs, and the extent to which P. aeruginosa adapts to the host environment via genotypic/phenotypic changes.

[学科分类] 呼吸医学