European Respiratory Society statement on airway clearance techniques in adults with bronchiectasis.

Airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are part of the main management strategy for patients with bronchiectasis. Despite being a priority for patients, accessibility, implementation and reporting of ACTs are variable in clinical settings and research studies. This European Respiratory Society statement summarises current knowledge about ACTs in adults with bronchiectasis and makes recommendations to improve the future evidence base.

Determining the most accurate 16S rRNA hypervariable region for taxonomic identification from respiratory samples.

16S rRNA gene profiling, which contains nine hypervariable regions (V1-V9), is the gold standard for identifying taxonomic units by high-throughput sequencing. Microbiome studies combine two or more region sequences (usually V3-V4) to increase the resolving power for identifying bacterial taxa. We compare the resolving powers of V1-V2, V3-V4, V5-V7, and V7-V9 to improve microbiome analyses in sputum samples from patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

Respiratory Muscle Training in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Effective treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) include positive pressure, weight loss, oral appliances, surgery, and exercise. Although the involvement of the respiratory muscles in OSA is evident, the effect of training them to improve clinical outcomes is not clear. We aimed to determine the effects of respiratory muscle training in patients with OSA.

Resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from patients with bronchiectasis.

Background: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) is a chronic structural lung condition that facilitates chronic colonization by different microorganisms and courses with recurrent respiratory infections and frequent exacerbations. One of the main pathogens involved in BE is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objectives: To determine the molecular mechanisms of resistance and the molecular epidemiology of P.

[Respiratory physiotherapy in post-COVID-19: a decision-making algorithm for clinical practice].

The outbreak of COVID-19 has posed a great challenge for the healthcare system which has been later aggravated by the need of managing clinical manifestations and potential sequelae in COVID-19 survivors. In this context, respiratory Physiotherapy emerges as a cornerstone in the interdisciplinary management warranted in this population. Given that the implementation and resources available for the interdisciplinary therapeutic interventions in Spain is scarce, it is essential to perform a comprehensive, exhaustive and personalised assessment.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Bronchiectasis.

(PA) in patients with bronchiectasis (BE) is associated with a poor outcome and quality of life, and its presence is considered a marker of disease severity. This opportunistic pathogen is known for its ability to produce biofilms on biotic or abiotic surfaces and to survive environmental stress exerted by antimicrobials, inflammation, and nutrient or oxygen depletion. The presence of PA biofilms has been linked to chronic respiratory infection in cystic fibrosis but not in BE.

Exacerbations and Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Patients with Bronchiectasis after 1 Year.

Background: Low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour in patients with bronchiectasis are associated with hospitalisation over one year. However, the factors associated with longitudinal changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour have not been explored. We aimed to identify clinical and sociodemographic characteristics related to a change in physical activity and sedentary behaviour in patients with bronchiectasis after one year.

Aetiological diagnosis in new adult outpatients with bronchiectasis:role of predictors derived from real life experience.

Background: In adult patients with bronchiectasis (BE) the identification of the underlying aetiology may be difficult. In a new patient with BE the performance of a panel of tests is recommended, even though this practice may be expensive and the level of evidence supporting is low. We aimed to identify a panel of variables able to predict the aetiological diagnosis of BE.

Association between physical activity and risk of hospitalisation in bronchiectasis.

Background: Patients with bronchiectasis have a less active lifestyle than healthy peers, but the association with hospital admission has not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between 1) any physical activity variable; and 2) sedentary time, with hospitalisation due to exacerbation in adults with bronchiectasis.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, baseline lung function, quality of life, exercise tolerance, severity of bronchiectasis and physical activity were recorded.

Reliability and Minimum Important Difference of Sputum Weight in Bronchiectasis.

Background: Despite the widespread use of sputum weight to assess the effect of airway clearance interventions, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated. The purpose of this ad hoc analysis was to determine the test-retest reliability of 24-h sputum weight in clinically stable individuals with bronchiectasis. This study also aimed to estimate the minimum important difference of 24-h sputum weight after an airway clearance session in subjects with bronchiectasis.

Clinical Factors Associated with a Shorter or Longer Course of Antibiotic Treatment in Patients with Exacerbations of Bronchiectasis: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Bronchiectasis exacerbations are often treated with prolonged antibiotic use, even though there is limited evidence for this approach. We therefore aimed to investigate the baseline clinical and microbiological findings associated with long courses of antibiotic treatment in exacerbated bronchiectasis patients.

Methods: This was a bi-centric prospective observational study of bronchiectasis exacerbated adults.

Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa alters sputum viscoelasticity in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Introduction And Aim: Pseudomonas aeruginosa could acquire a mucoid phenotype due to mutations in mucA (mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa - mPA) that is a hallmark of poor prognosis in patients with bronchiectasis. Despite the higher prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bronchiectasis, how mPA and non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mPA) phenotypes could affect viscoelastic properties of sputum is unknown. Our aim was to determine the relationship between Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenotypes isolation, the viscoelastic properties of sputum and the clinical outcomes in patients with bronchiectasis.

Pneumonic and non-pneumonic exacerbations in bronchiectasis: Clinical and microbiological differences.

Objectives: Despite the clinical relevance of exacerbations in bronchiectasis (BE), little is known about the microbiology and outcomes of pneumonic (CAP) vs. non-pneumonic (NOCAP) exacerbations.

Methods: This study compares clinical and microbiological characteristics of CAP vs.