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"Pathogen Eradication" and "Emerging Pathogens": Difficult Definitions in Cystic Fibrosis
Peter H Gilligan1,2, Damian G Downey3,4, J Stuart Elborn4,5,6
1Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Peter.Gilligan@unchealth.unc.edu.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|June 8, 2018
Summary
Treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) airway infections aim to eradicate pathogens and suppress microbial growth. New therapies may alter airway microbial communities, necessitating monitoring for pathogen emergence and clearance in CF patients.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Infection is a frequent complication in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease.
- Current CF treatments involve pathogen eradication and chronic antibiotic use.
- Emerging therapies target CFTR function, inflammation, and airway clearance, potentially impacting airway microbes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the timing of key pathogen eradication in CF patients.
- To identify the emergence of new pathogens due to novel therapies.
- To understand the impact of new CF treatments on airway microbial communities.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring pathogen presence and absence in CF airways.
- Analyzing changes in microbial communities over time.
- Correlating therapeutic interventions with microbial shifts.
Main Results:
- Data on pathogen eradication timing is crucial.
- Understanding pathogen emergence linked to new therapies is essential.
- Novel treatments may influence the airway microbiome in CF.
Conclusions:
- Close monitoring of microbial dynamics is vital during new CF treatment regimens.
- Defining pathogen clearance and emergence windows is critical for optimizing CF care.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of novel CF therapies on airway infections.