Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen in CF. Centre prevalence of intermittent colonization and chronic S. aureus infections and the effectiveness of an anti-S. aureus eradication strategy was assessed.
Methods: All airway cultures from 300 patients in a 2-year period were retrieved and all anti-S. aureus antibiotic treatments were evaluated for treatment success. Chronic infection was defined as a positive culture of S. aureus in 50% or more of the months each year. Change in FEV(1) following 2weeks of treatment of S. aureus was assessed in clinically stable patients. Primary outcome was S. aureus eradication at next clinical visit and number of patients chronically infected.
Results: The yearly prevalence of S. aureus intermittent and chronic infection was 47% and 14%, respectively. Eradication was successful at the next clinical visit in 61% of the standard treatment and 53% of the prolonged treatments, respectively. FEV(1) improved significantly following anti-S. aureus treatment (3.3%, p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Our anti-S. aureus eradication strategy in CF patients resulted in a low prevalence of chronic infections and high treatment efficacy. Furthermore, anti-staphylococcal treatment may be associated with a short-term improvement in lung function.
Copyright © 2012 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.