Publication Details
Abstract
A total of 26 severe bronchial asthma patients were studied (9 men — 34.6%, 17 women — 65.4%; mean age ± years, 41.9 ±15.8). Disease severity was classified according to GINA-2024. Aerobic bacteria were isolated in 83–85% of nasopharyngeal specimens. The identified isolates were Staphylococcus epidermidis (57.7%), Staphy aureus (30.8%) and Staphy haemolyticus (3.8%) in addition to Candida spp. (11.5%). For S. aureus, 60% was MRSA resistant to β-lactams; macrolides and tetracyclines while all strains were susceptible to aminoglycosides and co-trimoxazole. Candida spp. isolates were highly resistant to azole antifungals. These results show that bacteria frequently staphylococci, resistant ones included are part of the flora of severe asthma and suggest that surveillance for microbiological data combined with anti-infective therapy based on solid evidence are warranted.