Can inhaled saltwater help clear a stubborn lung infection?

NCT ID NCT05192057

Symptom relief Sponsor: Radboud University Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers are testing whether inhaling a concentrated saltwater mist, added to standard supportive care, can improve quality of life and help clear Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteria from the lungs. The trial enrolls 30 adults with nodular-bronchiectatic MAC lung disease, a form of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either hypertonic saline inhalation plus best supportive care or best supportive care alone. Over 12 weeks, researchers measure changes in symptom-related quality of life, fatigue, and sputum cultures to see whether the saltwater mist makes a difference.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: hypertonic saline inhalation
What this could lead to: If it works, inhaling hypertonic saline could become a simple, low-cost add-on that eases symptoms and helps clear mycobacteria for people with this hard-to-treat lung infection.
What could go wrong: This is a small Phase 4 trial of 30 people, so any benefit may be modest or not hold up in larger studies. Inhaling saltwater can irritate the airways and cause coughing or wheezing in some people.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 4

Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.

Participants

About 30 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

May 2022

Expected to finish

Oct 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * International guideline criteria for nodular-bronchiectatic MAC lung disease, i.e. symptomatic, nodular bronchiectatic lesions seen on thorax radiography and ≥2 positive cultures of the same MAC species or one positive culture from a bronchoalveolar lavage; * ≥1 positive MAC sputum cultures must be collected in the previous 4 months; * Signed and dated patient informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Fibrocavitary MAC lung disease; * Antimycobacterial treatment in the last 6 months; * Previous MAC lung disease treatment failure, defined as persistent culture positivity despite \>6 months of guideline-recommended treatment; * Current clinical relevant asthma or otherwise bronchial hyperresponsiveness that is judged to be a contra-indication for HSi. * Current HSi use * Former adverse reaction to HSi (note: former HSi use that was stopped due to a lack of clinical improvement is not an exclusion criterium); * Hypertonic saline intolerability during the screening test inhalation * Diagnosis of HIV; * Diagnosis of Cystic fibrosis (CF); * Active pulmonary malignancy (primary or metastatic) or any other malignancy requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 6 months before screening or anticipated during the study period; * Active pulmonary tuberculosis, fungal or nocardial disease requiring treatment * Current use of chronic systemic corticosteroids at doses of 15 mg/day for more than 3 months * Prior lung or other solid organ transplant * Known or suspected current drug or alcohol abuse, that is, in the opinion of the Investigator, sufficient to compromise the safety or cooperation of the patient.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Mycobacterium avium complex disease pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Mycobacterium avium complex Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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A doctor treating you

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Can inhaled saltwater help clear a stubborn lung infection?

What the study statuses mean