title: Ability of device to collect bacteria from cough aerosols generated by adults with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Background: Identifying lung pathogens and acute spikes in lung counts remain a challenge in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Bacteria from the deep lung may be sampled from aerosols produced during coughing.Methods: A new device was used to collect and measure bacteria levels from cough aerosols of patients with CF. Sputum and oral specimens were also collected and measured for comparison.Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Klebsiella pneumoniae, andStreptococcus mitiswere detected in specimens using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) molecular assays.Results: Twenty adult patients with CF and 10 healthy controls participated. CF related bacteria (CFRB) were detected in 13/20 (65%) cough specimens versus 15/15 (100%) sputum specimens. CommensalS. mitiswas present in 0/17 (0%, p=0.0002) cough specimens and 13/14 (93%) sputum samples. In normal controls, no bacteria were collected in cough specimens but 4/10 (40%) oral specimens were positive for CFRB.Conclusions: Non-invasive cough aerosol collection may detect lower respiratory pathogens in CF patients, with similar specificity and sensitivity to rates detected by BAL, without contamination by oral CFRB or commensal bacteria.
authors: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA; MD Innovate, Inc, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA.
authors: David N
authors: DN
authors: Ku
authors: MD Innovate, Inc, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA.
authors: Sarah K
authors: SK
authors: Ku
authors: Emory Children's Center for Cystic Fibrosis Research, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, USA.
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Helfman
authors: Emory Children's Center for Cystic Fibrosis Research, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, USA.
authors: Nael A
authors: NA
authors: McCarty
authors: Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA.
authors: Bernard J
authors: BJ
authors: Wolff
authors: Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA.
authors: Jonas M
authors: JM
authors: Winchell
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors: Larry J
authors: LJ
authors: Anderson
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; aerosols; etiology; respiratory infections; specimen collection