A study to assess whether the level of bacteria (bugs) colonisation in lungs is related to indicators of airways inflammation and to assess whether this has implications for treatments.
Key Conclusions:The higher the level of bacteria (bugs) in the airways, the higher the level of inflammation. This is relevant since patients with high bacterial loads have more outpatient chest infections and more unscheduled hospital admissions.
Patient Implications: The number of bacteria in the airways is important and new treatments will try and reduce this.
Reference: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2012; 186(7):657-65
Last Reviewed -13th January 2015