Lung Mycobiota α-Diversity Is Linked to Severity in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In AECOPD with acidemia, more severe patients— i.e. , nonsurvivors and patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation—have lower lung mycobiota α-diversity than survivors and patients receiving only noninvasive ventilation, respectively. This study encourages a large multicenter cohort study investigating the role of lung microbiota in severe AECOPD and urges investigation of the role of the fungal kingdom in severe AECOPD.