[The role of different microorganisms and infectious processes in the occurrence and course of bronchial asthma]

The role of infection in bronchial asthma (BA) is unknown. The pathogenesis of BA contributes to the origin of infectious processes induced by different microorganisms. In view of the predominance of associations of viruses and bacteria in the etiology and pathogenesis of acute respiratory infections, it is difficult to define in vivo the share and role of these microorganisms which participate in the origin and enhancement of hypersensitivity, hyperreactivity and alterations in beta-adrenoreactivity. Some factors of bacterial pathogenicity promote BA progress. On contact with basophils and mast cells bacteria (both pathogenic ones and ordinary commensals) are capable of liberating histamine and other mediators during colonization of the bronchial tree and origin other infectious process. This mechanism of mediator liberation may contribute to the transformation of pre-asthma to BA or provoke its exacerbation.