Abstract
Background: Bronchiectasis (B.) is induced by different mechanisms, one of these is primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Genetic aberrations lead to a lack of mucociliary clearance. The bacterial biofilm in B. of patients with PCD in comparison to CF was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH).
Material and Methods: An explant and 2 middle lobe resections of 3 patients (age between 5 and 50 years) were investigated using conventional histology. Diagnosis of PCD was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. For comparison 10 explants of CF patients were available. Of all cases, at least 2 locations were studied by FISH using a pan-bacterial and a Pseudomonas (Ps.) specific probe.
Results: Histology revealed typical B. In all 3 PCD cases no bacterial biofilms were detected by FISH, although in at least one case Ps. was detected by culture previously. In comparison all CF cases showed colonization with Ps.
Conclusions: Significant differences exist concerning bacterial biofilms in PCD versus CF. This might be of relevance for the clinical practise.
- © 2012 ERS