title: Analysis of the fungal microbiome in exhaled breath condensate of patients with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of virus and bacteria in the airways of subjects with asthma is common and seems to be associated with a deterioration due to the disease. The microbiologic study of airways in asthma is foreseen by guidelines with induced sputum that is often ineffective and contraindicated in severe asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the fungal microbiome in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of subjects with asthma by evaluating a possible correlation with anthropometric and asthma severity data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 47 consecutive subjects with asthma (28 with atopic asthma and 19 with nonatopic asthma) and 20 controls. Enrolled subjects underwent EBC and sputum collection. Fungal microbiome was assessed by culture on EBC and sputum samples by using Czapek yeast extract agar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A fungal colonization in the EBC of 70% of enrolled subjects with asthma was detected (none detected in the controls). An overlap of fungal microbiome in EBC and sputum was observed (100% of overlap). Fungal colonization was higher in subjects without atopic, obesity, and severe and uncontrolled asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When considering the high morbidity and mortality of patients with severe asthma in whom we found an important fungal airways colonization, we support the use of the analysis of exhaled fungal microbiome in these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Carpagnano
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malerba
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacedonia
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Susca
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Logrieco
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carone
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cotugno
authors.forename: Giuseppe A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Palmiotti
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschino-Barbaro
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D000072761:Mycobiome; D009765:Obesity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology