Moraxella catarrhalis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: burden of disease and immune response.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Moraxella catarrhalis is frequently present in the sputum of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about the role of M. catarrhalis in this common disease.

Objective

To elucidate the burden of disease, the dynamics of carriage, and immune responses to M. catarrhalis in COPD.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of 104 adults with COPD in an outpatient clinic at the Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Measurements

Clinical information, sputum cultures, molecular typing of isolates, and immunoassays to measure antibodies to M. catarrhalis.

Main results

Over 81 months, 104 patients made 3,009 clinic visits, 560 during exacerbations. Molecular typing identified 120 episodes of acquisition and clearance of M. cat

SUBMITTER: Murphy TF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2718466 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature