The airways microbiome of individuals with asthma treated with high and low doses of inhaled corticosteroids.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the mainstay of asthma treatment, but evidence suggests a link between ICS usage and increased rates of respiratory infections. We assessed the composition of the asthmatic airways microbiome in asthma patients taking low and high dose ICS and the stability of the microbiome over a 2 week period.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 55 individuals with asthma. Of these, 22 were on low-dose ICS and 33 on high-dose ICS (16 on budesonide, 17 on fluticasone propionate). Sputum from each subject underwent DNA extraction, amplification and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the bacterial component of the microbiome. 19 subjects returned for further sputum induction after 24 h and 2 weeks.

Results

A total of 5,615,037 sequencing reads reve

SUBMITTER: Martin MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7773270 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature