Switching COPD patients from the disposable to the new reusable Respimat soft mist inhaler: a real-world study from Switzerland.

Objective: The aims of the survey were to assess first experiences of Swiss COPD patients switching from the disposable to the new reusable Respimat inhaler, and to evaluate physicians´ and patients´ views of the new training material.

Methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD using a disposable Respimat inhaler for at least three months were included. Patients´ demographics, COPD stage, current treatment, and comorbidities relevant for the handling of the device were assessed.

Adherence to GOLD Recommendations among Swiss Pulmonologists and General Practitioners.

Significant variability in adherence to COPD management recommendations has been reported. We aimed to evaluate real-life COPD pharmacotherapy prescribing patterns and adherence to the 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) global strategy in Switzerland. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among Swiss general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists (PULs) from May 1 to November 30, 2017.

[Development of inhaled therapies for COPD and asthma].

Development of inhaled therapies for COPD and asthma Inhaled therapies still represent one of the most important pillars of the COPD and asthma treatments. In recent years, the importance of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of COPD changed again and again and currently it seems that they are gaining more importance again. In the future, inhaled therapies will increasingly focus on biomarkers.

Discovery and Characterization of sp. nov., a Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Isolated From Human Lungs.

Bacteria belonging to the genus are predominantly responsible for pulmonary diseases; most notably causes granulomatous pulmonary infections. Here we describe a novel slow growing mycobacterial species isolated from respiratory samples from five patients, four with underlying pulmonary disease. The isolates were characterized by biochemical and molecular techniques, including whole genome sequencing.