Effects of Tham Nasal Alkalinization on Airway Microbial Communities: A Pilot Study in Non-CF and CF Adults

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effects of Tham Nasal Alkalinization on Airway Microbial Communities: A Pilot Study in Non-CF and CF Adults Via otol rhinol Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2021 Oct 21:34894211051814. doi: 10.1177/00034894211051814. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: In cystic fibrosis (CF), loss of CFTR-mediated bicarbonate secretion reduces the airway surface liquid (ASL) pH causing airway host defense defects. Aerosolized sodium bicarbonate can reverse these defects, but its effects are short-lived. Aerosolized tromethamine (THAM) also raises the ASL pH but its effects are much longer lasting. In this pilot study, we tested the hypothesis that nasally administered THAM would alter the nasal bacterial composition in adults with and without CF. METHODS: Subjects (n = 32 total) received intranasally administered normal saline or THAM followed by a wash out period prior to receiving the other treatment. Nasal bacterial cultures were obtained prior to and after each treatment period. RESULTS: At baseline, nasal swab bacterial counts were similar between non-CF and CF subjects, but CF subjects had reduced microbial diversity. Both nasal saline and THAM were well-tolerated. In non-CF subjects, nasal airway alkalinization decreased both the total bacterial density and the gram-positive bacterial species recovered. In both non-CF and CF subjects, THAM decreased the amount of Corynebacterium accolens detected, but increased the amount of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum recovered on nasal swabs. A reduction in Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization was als o found in subjects who grew C. pseudodiphtheriticum. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that aerosolized THAM is safe and well-tolerated and that nasal airway alkalinization alters the composition of mucosal bacterial communities. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00928135 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00928135). PMID:34674574 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211051814 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.