Microbiologic investigation on patients with cystic fibrosis subjected to bilateral lung transplantation.
BACKGROUND
In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, lung transplantation is the only way to improve both quality and length of life. Data in the literature show that, in 80% of the cases, mortality after lung transplantation in CF patients is due to infections.


METHODS
We microbiologically monitored 34 patients subjected to bilateral lung transplantation in during 1996 to 1999 to ascertain whether a change in the bacterial species isolated from the lower respiratory tract took place that might have influenced the clinical conditions of the patients.


RESULTS
Our results show that the percentage of nonfermenting Gram-negative bacteria isolated from the lower respiratory tract remains high even in the posttransplantation phase. Nevertheless, the general clinical conditions of most of the patients were good and the three patients who died did not do as a consequence of an infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung transplantation constitutes a valid therapeutic choice for CF patients because the microorganisms that we isolated from the lungs of the patients in our study behave mostly as contaminants rather than as colonizers. However, the transplanted patients remain at risk and thus require constant microbiological surveillance.
Trancassini
M
M
Institute of Microbiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Mosca
G
G
Margiotta
M C
MC
Pecoraro
C
C
Quattrucci
S
S
Venuta
F
F
Cipriani
P
P
D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus