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Unusual respiratory bacterial flora in cystic fibrosis: microbiologic and clinical features

P M Beringer1, M D Appleman

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. beringer@hsc.usc.edu

Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine
|December 2, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Emerging pathogens like Burkholderia cepacia complex and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pose risks to cystic fibrosis patients. This review covers their identification, epidemiology, and clinical impact, highlighting the need for further research.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Pulmonary infections are a major cause of illness and death in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well-studied, but less is known about other emerging pathogens.
  • Unusual bacterial and fungal pathogens can complicate CF lung disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the identification, epidemiology, and clinical features of emerging pathogens in cystic fibrosis.
  • To highlight the significance of organisms beyond Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • To emphasize the need for further research into these less common infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on emerging pathogens in CF.
  • Discussion of diagnostic methods for identifying unusual organisms.
  • Analysis of epidemiological and clinical data from surveillance studies.

Main Results:

  • Several organisms, including Burkholderia cepacia complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, and MRSA, are emerging threats.
  • Effective identification methods are crucial for managing these infections.
  • Limited data exists on the precise pathogenicity and prevalence of these unusual pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate identification and understanding of emerging pathogens are vital for CF patient care.
  • Multicenter surveillance studies are essential to establish the pathogenicity of these organisms.
  • Further research is needed to guide treatment strategies for infections caused by these unusual pathogens.

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