Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa cross-infections are related to increased morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF).
Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of cross-infections with P. aeruginosa in children with CF.
Methodology: CF patients from whom at least one P. aeruginosa strain had been isolated were included in the study. The strain genotyping was performed using pulse-field gel electrophoresis. The history of contacts between patients was established based on questionnaires.
Results: The study group consisted of 75 patients (aged 1.0-19.2 years) and the material included 170 P. aeruginosa strains. Cross-infections occurred in a group of 26 patients. In this group, the risk of the predicted occurrence of forced expiratory volume in 1 second ≤ 70% was five times greater and the risk of longer cumulative hospitalization time for intravenous antibiotic therapy (>14 days/year) was almost five times greater. In the clonal groups of strains, the multidrug-resistance rate was significantly higher than in other groups. In 2011, all tested strains were susceptible to colistin, whereas in 2012, three strains from the largest clonal group showed high levels of resistance to colistin.
Conclusion: Cross-infections with P. aeruginosa occurred in our group of patients and were associated with poor clinical outcomes. Antimicrobial resistance rate in the strains isolated from such infections was significantly higher, and this included three strains resistant to colistin.
Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; clinical outcome; cross-infection; cystic fibrosis.
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