A 1-m distance is not safe for children with cystic fibrosis at risk for cross-infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Although maintaining a distance of 1 m between persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a universal recommendation to prevent respiratory cross-infections such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, evidence supporting this preventive measure is scarce. Examining 336 samples from 42 patients with CF collected experimentally from sterile surfaces after speaking and coughing, we found that transmission of P aeruginosa beyond 1 m is possible during both talking and coughing, although the probability is low (1.7%).
Festini
Filippo
F
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nursing Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. filippo.festini@unifi.it
Taccetti
Giovanni
G
Galici
Valeria
V
Neri
Stella
S
Bisogni
Sofia
S
Ciofi
Daniele
D
Braggion
Cesare
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult