title: Sputum bacteriology in steady-state bronchiectasis in Guangzhou, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms (PPMs) on Chinese patients with steady-state bronchiectasis is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood and sputum were sampled to determine inflammatory markers and sputum bacterial density. Spirometry and diffusing capacity were measured. Quality of life was assessed using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 144 patients with steady-state bronchiectasis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 44 cases (30.6%). Compared with other PPMs, P. aeruginosa had a more pronounced influence on airway inflammation and spirometry, but not on systemic inflammation or quality of life. The impact of PPMs other than P. aeruginosa on clinical indices was similar. Bacterial density was not correlated with most clinical parameters. Factors associated with PPM isolation included bronchiectasis symptoms for ⩾ 10 years (OR 2.13) and ⩾ 4 bronchiectatic lobes (OR 2.82). Having ⩾ 4 exacerbations within 2 years (OR 2.18) and cystic bronchiectasis (OR 2.23) was associated with the colonisation of PPMs, i.e., isolating an identical PPM on at least two occasions within 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with steady-state bronchiectasis in Guangzhou, P. aeruginosa is the most common organism causing heightened airway inflammation and poor lung function. PPM isolation or colonisation should be suspected in case of longer duration of symptoms, multilobar bronchiectasis, frequent exacerbation and cystic bronchiectasis.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: W-J
authors: WJ
authors: Guan
authors: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors: Y-H
authors: YH
authors: Gao
authors: Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Xu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: Z-Y
authors: ZY
authors: Lin
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: H-M
authors: HM
authors: Li
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: Z-M
authors: ZM
authors: Lin
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: J-P
authors: JP
authors: Zheng
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: R-C
authors: RC
authors: Chen
authors: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors: N-S
authors: NS
authors: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators