Emerging and unusual gram-negative infections in cystic fibrosis

Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Jun;28(3):312-21. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-981652.

Abstract

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) have chronic airway infection and frequent exposure to antibiotics, which often leads to the emergence of resistant organisms. In addition to the development of multiresistance in common CF pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, several newer, inherently resistant gram-negative species are becoming more common, including Burkholderia cepacia complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans, certain Ralstonia species, and those within the new genus Pandoraea. Many of these are closely related and have similar phenotypes, making accurate laboratory identification challenging. Although their role in contributing to pulmonary disease in CF is not clear, some, such as those of the B. cepacia complex, are clearly linked to an adverse prognosis, and both treatment and infection control issues can pose a real challenge.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Achromobacter denitrificans
  • Acinetobacter baumannii
  • Burkholderia cepacia complex
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / complications*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / drug therapy
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
  • Cystic Fibrosis / microbiology*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / complications*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia