Analysis of microbiota in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

To identify the bacterial diversity (microbiota) in expectorated sputum, a pyrosequencing method that investigates complex microbial communities of expectorated sputum was done in 19 stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (mean (SD) FEV1: 47 (18%) of predicted value). Using conventional culture, 3 phyla and 20 bacterial genera were identified, whereas the pyrosequencing approach detected 9 phyla and 43 genera (p < 0.001). In sputum the prevalent genera with pyrosequencing approach were Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Neisseria, Haemophilus, Rothia, Fusobacterium, Gemella, Granulicatella, Porphyromonas, Prevotella and Veillonella. Enterobacteriaceae, detected frequently in convent…