Microbiology of CF lung disease

This chapter presents the microbiology of CF and describes the classical bacterial pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and organisms of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. The dominant of these is P. aeruginosa. Infections with other opportunistic pathogens including non-tuberculous mycobacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophila, and Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans are also encountered. This chapter details measures to prevent the onset of chronic infection with these organisms include regular screening of respiratory tract samples for bacterial pathogens and the use of aggressive antibiotic therapy to eradicate initial infection before the pathogen can adapt to the environment of the CF lung. Patient-to-patient spread of transmissible strains of bacterial pathogens has led to the implementation of strict infection control measures at CF centres, including patient segregation. In addition to bacterial pathogens, the contribution of fungal infection in CF lung disease is increasingly recognized.