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A survey on pulmonary pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility among cystic fibrosis patients

Ghamartaj Khanbabaee1, Majidreza Akbarizadeh, Aliakbar Sayyari

  • 1Department Pediatric Respiratory Diseases, CF Center, Mofid Children Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. khanbabaeegh@yahoo.com

The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
|May 4, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study identified common lung bacteria in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and their antibiotic resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was most frequent, with rifampin and vancomycin showing high effectiveness against CF pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting multiple organs, primarily the lungs.
  • Chronic pulmonary infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in CF patients.
  • Understanding the spectrum of pulmonary pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of pulmonary pathogens in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients.
  • To assess the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these isolated pathogens.
  • To inform optimal therapeutic strategies for CF-related lung infections.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 129 pediatric patients with CF.
  • Microbiological cultures obtained from sputum or pharyngeal swabs.
  • Antibiotic susceptibility testing performed using the disk diffusion method.

Main Results:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.8%) was the most prevalent pathogen, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.6%) and Staphylococcus aureus (9.3%).
  • High in vitro susceptibility was observed for rifampin (91.7%), vancomycin (85%), and imipenem (83.5%).
  • A concerning trend of emerging resistance to aminoglycosides was noted.

Conclusions:

  • Cyclic oral azithromycin and inhaled tobramycin may be beneficial for prophylaxis in CF patients.
  • For exacerbations, combination therapy with imipenem or ceftazidime and an aminoglycoside (e.g., amikacin) is recommended.
  • These findings support evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship in cystic fibrosis care.

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