Respiratory Tract Bacteriology in Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Introduction In cystic fibrosis of the pancreas the great clinical significance of pulmonary infection has been well recognized. Many studies have reported the high incidence of coagulasepositive staphylococci in the upper respiratory tract and pulmonary secretions.1-9A number of previous investigators have examined the bacterial flora more completely; however, data comparing the bacterial organisms in the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis with the bacterial flora in other respiratory illnesses have not been published until recently.9The present study was designed to compare the respiratory flora of cystic fibrosis of the pancreas with other pulmonary diseases as a basis for further inquiry into the nature of the infectious process in the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis. In addition to this, the effect of antibacterial therapy and factors of duration and severity of the disease have been examined. Materials and Methods The subjects of this study