Relationship between bronchoscopic culture results and clinical and demographic factors

INTRODUCTION: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are prevalent chronic respiratory diseases worldwide. In both conditions, respiratory tract infections are a significant cause of morbidity and
mortality. Bronchoscopic sampling is an important diagnostic method for evaluating the microbiological
flora. There is limited data on whether the microbiological culture results differ in patients with asthma and
COPD from patients without asthma and COPD. This study aimed to investigate potential differences in the
respiratory tract microbial profiles of asthma, COPD, and non-asthma/non-COPD patients.
METHODS: This study included patients aged 18 years and older who underwent bronchoscopy between 2019 and 2024. Bronchoscopic samples were collected using the bronchoalveolar lavage method, and the microbiological culture results of these samples were examined in a laboratory setting. All procedures were performed using a flexible bronchoscope under local anesthesia and sedation.
RESULTS: A total of 526 patients were included in the study: 389 Without asthma and COPD, 35 with asthma, and 102 with COPD. The age in the COPD group was significantly higher than in the other groups (p=0.009). There was no difference between gender and procedure indications. Heart failure was more common in the asthma group, and coronary artery disease was more frequent in the COPD group. No significant difference was found between the groups in microbiological cultures (p>0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The bronchial microbial profile in patients with asthma and COPD did not differ from those without these diseases. These findings suggest that microbial colonization is independent of the disease.