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Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia in a patient with cystic fibrosis

C C Aebischer1, C Aebi, M H Schöni

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Berne, Inselspital, Switzerland.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|October 3, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Systemic steroid therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis can increase the risk of rare, life-threatening Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Prompt antibiotic treatment is crucial for recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients commonly experience bacterial colonization of the bronchi.
  • Infections extending beyond the lungs are rare in CF patients, particularly systemic bacterial infections.
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a known complication in CF, often treated with corticosteroids.

Observation:

  • A 12-year-old boy with CF developed pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) septicaemia while on oral corticosteroids for ABPA.
  • The patient received a combination of antibiotics including flucloxacillin, ticarcillin-clavulanate, aztreonam, cefazolin, and rifampin, guided by S. aureus resistance testing.
  • Recovery was achieved by day 25 of treatment.

Findings:

  • Systemic corticosteroid use in ABPA may predispose CF patients to severe, invasive bacterial infections.
  • Staphylococcus aureus can cause life-threatening pneumonia and septicaemia in this context.
  • Antibiotic resistance patterns are critical for guiding effective treatment of S. aureus infections in CF.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider the risk of systemic bacterial infections when prescribing corticosteroids for ABPA in CF patients.
  • Vigilance for invasive bacterial infections is warranted in CF patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
  • This case highlights the importance of tailored antibiotic therapy based on susceptibility testing for severe S. aureus infections in CF.
Abstract

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