Pseudomonas aeruginosa among Cystic Fibrosis patients: epidemiology,
risk factors and infection control
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Microbiological surveillance guides the
antibiotic therapy that plays an important role in maintaining the
cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in stable clinical condition. Materials
and Method: Respiratory samples (495 sputum, 711 deep pharyngeal swab)
from 253 CF patients aged 0-43 were cultivated in conventional media and
cumulative antibiogram was determined. A 24 questioned survey was
applied to 119 patients for a 3 months period to measure demographic
variabilities and knowledge about infection control. Results: The most
common pathogen was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (45.7%), followed by
Staphylococcus aureus (36%). P. aeruginosa was isolated from 60% of
sputum samples and 28.5% of deep pharyngeal swab samples. High rate of
resistance was detected to ceftazidime, amikacin and ciprofloxacin that
are often preferred in treatment. Low monthly income, more than 9 visits
to CF clinic in the last year, hospitalisation in the last year,
spending more than 3 hours in CF clinic were significantly associated
with P. aeruginosa colonisation. Health care providers was the main
source of information (62.2% ).Vast majority of the patients (88.2%)
knew that pathogens can be transmitted between the patients and
infections could be reduced by using a mask, handwashing and by cleaning
nebulizers as declared by 87.4% of participants clean the nebulizer
after every usage and 93.3% of them dry it properly. Conclusion:
Prevention of infections in CF patients is possible only if patients and
their families are alert and have sufficient information about infection
control that will provide great improvements in the prognosis. Key
Words: P. aeruginosa, Cystic Fibrosis, Antibiotic Resistance, Infection
control