title: Ralstonia species - do these bacteria matter in cystic fibrosis?
abstract: Ralstonia species, often regarded as an environmental organism of low pathogenicity, can cause significant disease in certain at-risk patient groups, including those with cystic fibrosis. Difficulties with its identification in the clinical laboratory mean that it may be misidentified and therefore under recognised as a cause of disease. A number of outbreaks have been associated with the use of devices for inhaled respiratory therapy, putting those with chronic respiratory conditions at risk. Antimicrobial treatment of infection is challenging and limited due to frequent antimicrobial resistance. This review highlights issues regarding the identification, treatment and prevention of infection due to Ralstonia spp. in children with cystic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland. Electronic address: arprior@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Anna-Rose
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunaratnam
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D043367:Ralstonia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Ralstonia; cystic fibrosis; diagnosis; epidemiology; pathogenesis; treatment