Effect of inhaled budesonide on oropharyngeal, Gram-negative bacilli colonization in asthma patients.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of inhaled budesonide on oropharyngeal Gram-negative bacilli colonization (OGNBC) in asthmatic patients was investigated.


METHODS
Oropharyngeal cultures were obtained from asthmatic patients attending the hospital respiratory outpatient clinic, at baseline and 1 month after treatment with 800 microg/day of inhaled budesonide. Cultures were evaluated for OGNBC and compared with those of healthy controls.


RESULTS
A total of 148 cultures (74 from asthma patients, 74 from healthy controls) were evaluated. Six cultures (8.1%) from healthy controls, eight cultures (10.8%) from asthma patients obtained before treatment and 20 cultures (27.0%) obtained after treatment were positive for OGNBC (P < 0.05). Gender, age, presence of atopy and the degree of illness were not found to be related to the presence of OGNBC in and healthy control cultures. In the cultures obtained from the patients after treatment, OGNBC was higher in patients >50 years and in those with FEV1 < 70% (P < 0.05). Nine (18.8%) of 48 patients <50 years compare with 11 (42.3%) of the 26 patients >50 revealed OGNBC (P < 0.05). OGNBC were observed in 18.9% of the patients with FEV1 = 70% and in 47.6% of those with FEV1 < 70% (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased rate of OGNBC in asthma patients treated with inhaled budesonide was found to be related to increased age and lower level of FEV1. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are required for the interpretation of this colonization in the course of lower respiratory infections in these patients.
Talay
Fahrettin
F
Department of Chest Diseases, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Izzet Baysal Medical Faculty, Bolu, Turkey. ftalay2000@yahoo.com
Karabay
Oguz
O
Yilmaz
Fahrettin
F
Kocoglu
Esra
E
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019819:Budesonide