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

摘要

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.