Pulmonary pseudomonas colonization in cystic fibrosis

ABSTRACT

Respiratory tract mucus plugging and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [PA] colonization in cystic fibrosis patients can influence the health indices, morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the relation between pulmonary infection with PA and its effects on respiratory function test and some health-related parameters. This study was a cross-sectional study. Thirty CF patients, who were admitted to GI department of Children Medical Center because of gastrointestinal and/or pulmonary disturbances, were enrolled in this study. Management began by taking a medical history, physical examination, sputum or pharyngeal swab for culture and antibiogram, spirometric assessment for cooperative children [over 6 years old] and filling out a questionnaire for the abovementioned items and some health related parameters [weight, mean hospital stay days, mean absent days from school, and mean ICU admission time during the last year]. The mean [ +/- SD] age was 6.39 [ +/- 5.88] years [11 females, 19 males]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew in sputum or pharyngeal swab of 13 cases [43.3%], did not grow in 12 cases [40%] and other organisms grew in 5 cases [16.7%]. Mean of hospitalization period was higher in cases with positive culture [31.83 Vs 13.08 days, Paired sample t-test, P= 0. 005]. Mean [ +/- SD] predicted FEV1% was 34.6 [ +/- 28.0], but this difference was not significant in age, age of diagnosis, days of ICU hospitalization, absent days from school, days of using respiratory assistance equipments, days of antibiotics administration during the last year, body weight, predicted FEV1%, predicted FEV1/FVC% and predicted FEF 25-75%. Prevention and early treatment of PA colonization can reduce hospital stay and its cost. Further large controlled trials are required in this regard