Detection of microorganisms in exhaled breath condensate during acute exacerbations of COPD

Background: One hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is colonization and infection of the lung. Exacerbations are acute deteriorations of the chronic disease and are associated with a change of the pulmonary microbiome. The collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) can be used to noninvasively determine markers of lung disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the sensitivity of assay based on the detection of microbial nucleic acids from exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and from spontaneous sputum. Methods: EBCs and sputa of 29 adults with acute exacerbation of COPD were obtain…