A neighborhood basis in an arbitrary topological space for which the inclusion is a total order

Given a first countable space it is always possible to build a neighborhood basis of a point for which the inclusion is a total order. Let's say $\lbrace V_n \rbrace _{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ is any countable neighborhood basis of that point, then define $\lbrace U_n \rbrace _{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ as follows:

$U_1=V_1$

$U_k=V_k \cap V_{k-1} \quad \mbox{if$k>1$}$

It's easy to check that $\lbrace U_n \rbrace _{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ equipped with the inclusion relation is a totally ordered set.

Now, if we have a space which is not $N_1$ we may not able to use this inductive construction, so my question is if there is some other technique we can use for a (possible) non-countable neighborhood basis of a point or if it is proven that is not possible to construct such a basis.

Thanks

• How about transfinite induction? – sqtrat Jun 15 '16 at 13:20
• @sqtrat The problem of transfinite induction is that infinite intersection of open sets need not to be open. – Crostul Jun 15 '16 at 13:20
• @Crostul Oh yes, of course. Completely slipped my mind. In that case, I think that this won't be possible. – sqtrat Jun 15 '16 at 13:23
• A counterexample is $\Bbb{R}$ with the cofinite topology. Any basis of neighbourhoods of $0$ cannot be a totally ordered set. – Crostul Jun 15 '16 at 13:24
• @Crostul That seems to be the correct idea. – sqtrat Jun 15 '16 at 13:26