Background: New emerging pathogens and associated antimicrobial resistance mechanisms have been observed in the respiratory tract of
patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) in the last years. Amongst others, the rate of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas
aeruginosa strains is growing. However, there are no published data on the prevalence of MBL-producing P. aeruginosa in CF
patients to our knowledge.
Methods: In this study, 271 sputum samples of 60 CF patients were collected during a 12-months period. Microbiological cultures and
antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the most frequently isolated bacteria were performed.
Results: 464 bacterial and 414 fungal strains were isolated and characterized. 63.3% of the patients harbored Staphylococcus aureus, 50%
P. aeruginosa, 16.6% Haemophilus influenzae, 15% Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and 13.3% non tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM).
Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and MBL-producing P. aeruginosa were detected in 3 (5%) and 5 (8.3%) patients respectively.
Among the fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans showed the highest prevalence.
Conclusions: The detection of MBL-producing P. aeruginosa and MRSA in CF patients confirms that antimicrobial resistance patterns should
be always kept under surveillance. Moreover hygiene regulations in CF clinics should prevent a further spread of resistant bacterial strains.
© 2007 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.