title: Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients without cystic fibrosis is strongly associated with chronic obstructive lung disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence and consequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a group of non-cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with regard to clinical presentation, treatment and change in lung function.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a three-year retrospective study of 113 patients with P. aeruginosa-positive airway samples achieved from the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Medical records were reviewed in order to register patient demographics, symptoms, co-morbidity, pulmonary function tests (PFT), treatment, X-ray/computed tomography findings and mortality. Finally, deterioration of lung function was evaluated by comparing the first and last available PFT in the period of observation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients had several co-morbidities and only seven patients had none. 62% had a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We found a significant decrease in lung function within the observation period among patients with P. aeruginosa-infection as evidenced by all measured PFT-parameters except the forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity-ratio. A total of 27 patients (24%) died within the observation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium infecting primarily patients with severe lung disease. Our data show a significant reduction in lung function among P. aeruginosa-positive non-CF patients over a three-year period of time. The reduction, however, is not different than otherwise reported in COPD patients in general leading to no conclusion as to whether this pathogen is a marker of disease progression or the cause for progression itself.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors.affiliation: Magnoliavej 6, 8260 Viby, Denmark. jpholm@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Jonas Peter Yde
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hilberg
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noerskov-Lauritsen
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bendstrup
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents