title: Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Chronic pulmonary colonisation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) in patients with CF is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Adequate treatment of first acquisition of PA might prevent or postpone chronic colonisation. Early detection of PA is therefore of major importance. Currently, cultures of oropharynx or sputum are most commonly practised. However, oropharyngeal culture has limitations both in the positive and negative predictive value for the presence of PA in the lower respiratory tract. Induction of sputum has little benefit in detection of PA. Serology might have additional value in early detection, when bacterial density is too low to be detected by culture. Molecular techniques are not yet widespread used for detection of PA, but have in general a high sensitivity. In this review, we describe the value of different diagnostic techniques for detecting PA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, KH 01.419.0, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB, Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.tramper@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tramper-Stranders
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: van der Ent
authors.forename: T F W
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wolfs
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial