title: Chronic Infection and Severe Asthma.
abstract: Chronic bacterial infection is implicated in both the development and severity of asthma. The atypical bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae have been identified in the airways of asthmatics and correlated with clinical features such as adult onset, exacerbation risks, steroid sensitivity, and symptom control. Asthmatic patients with evidence of bacterial infection may benefit from antibiotic treatment directed towards these atypical organisms. Examination of the airway microbiome may identify microbial communities that confer risk for or protection from severe asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. Electronic address: tcarr@deptofmed.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Tara F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraft
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061387:Chlamydial Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides
keywords: Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Chronic infection; Macrolides; Microbiome; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Severe asthma