[Cystic fibrosis: a microbiological study over an 8-year period]

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Cystic Fibrosis Research

Context:

• Cystic fibrosis (CF) management has evolved, necessitating updated understanding of microbial ecology.
• The period 1985-1992 represents a significant era in CF care prior to widespread advanced therapies.
• Hospital-based surveillance provides crucial data on pathogen prevalence and resistance patterns.

Purpose:

• To characterize the spectrum of microbial pathogens in cystic fibrosis patients.
• To identify the most prevalent microorganisms and assess antimicrobial resistance patterns.
• To observe trends in microbial isolates over a defined historical period (1985-1992).

Summary:

• Analysis of 1,034 samples from 113 cystic fibrosis patients (1985-1992) revealed high rates of pathogenic microorganisms (87.4%).
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (53.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (30.3%), and Haemophilus influenzae (22.0%) were the most frequent isolates.
• Significant antimicrobial resistance was noted, particularly P. aeruginosa resistance to gentamicin (58.2%) and beta-lactams.

Impact:

• Findings underscore the persistent challenge of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in CF, informing treatment strategies.
• The study highlights the emergence of other pathogens and potential shifts in bacterial ecology due to improved survival and antibiotic pressure.
• Antimicrobial resistance data provides a baseline for monitoring treatment efficacy and developing new therapeutic approaches.