Investigació Aplicada en Malalties Respiratòries

A new study led by the IDIBAPS Group Applied Research in Respiratory Diseases, with Dr Laia Fernández-Barat as first author, and recently published in Archivos de Bronconeumología, reveals that patients with bronchiectasis chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa — especially its mucoid phenotype — experience a greater loss in lung microbiome biodiversity. They also report a decline in emotional and social aspects of quality of life. Yet paradoxically, these patients suffer fewer hospitalised exacerbations after one year compared to those with intermittent infection.

These findings suggest that systemic anti-Pseudomonas antibodies, which rise over time in chronic cases, may offer a protective effect. Importantly, the research also underscores the diagnostic advantages of biofilm-specific culture techniques over standard methods.

The study’s key insights are discussed in depth in our latest AI-driven podcast episode, co-produced with NotebookLM. It offers a glimpse into the methodology and clinical implications of the work. Don’t miss it!

Reference:

Fernández-Barat L, López-Aladid R, Alcaraz-Serrano V, et al. Clinical and lung microbiome impact of chronic versus intermittent Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in bronchiectasis. Arch Bronconeumol. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arbres.2025.03.003