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Review
. 2014 Jun;34(2):197-217.
doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.02.001. Epub 2014 Apr 12.

Infections in patients with cystic fibrosis: diagnostic microbiology update

Peter H Gilligan  1
Affiliations
Review

Infections in patients with cystic fibrosis: diagnostic microbiology update

Peter H Gilligan. Clin Lab Med. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Survival has improved in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), in part because of aggressive antimicrobial management. Two multidrug-resistant environmental bacteria, the Burkholderia cepacia group and nontuberculous mycobacteria, have emerged. Improving genomic and proteomic technologies are allowing better identification of bacteria and fungi found in the CF lung and detection of viral agents that may be associated with pulmonary exacerbations. Anaerobic bacteria and Streptococcus angionsus group organisms may play a role in chronic CF lung infections. The diversity of organisms declines perhaps as a result of aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and an apex predator, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, may emerge in many patients with CF.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Diagnostic microbiology; Infection; Update.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lung function by age group, 2011. FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CF lung infection diagnostics 2014.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Germs found in the lungs of people with CF by age, 2012.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Staphylococcus aureus on mannitol salt agar.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa on MacConkey agar.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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