Dynamics of the Upper and Lower Respiratory Microbiomes Associated With Severe Infant Asthma

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying severe asthma in infants under 24 months old to understand how imbalances in the different microbiomes of the respiratory tract and the immune system may contribute to the disease and how these factors change with treatment. The goal is to improve care and find new treatment targets, such as exploring azithromycin as an immune system modulator, though current results on this are mixed. All infants in the study will be followed for one year with visits every three months. During these visits, samples including blood, expectoration, and nasopharyngeal swabs will be collected to analyze the microbiomes from different parts of the respiratory tract at inclusion and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Participants will undergo bronchial fibroscopy as part of their clinical evaluation. Researchers will describe the microbiomes from bronchoalveolar fluids, nasopharyngeal samples, and sputum collected at each visit. The study aims to monitor changes in these microbiomes over time alongside clinical assessments. Parents will provide informed consent, and the total participation lasts one year with regular follow-ups.

Dynamics of the Upper and Lower Airway Respiratory Microbiomes Associated With Severe Infant Asthma