Longitudinal airway microbiota profiling and inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients enrolled in the CFMATTERS clinical study
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most significant challenges facing the EU health care system. The unnecessary use of antibiotics is a key driver in the development of antibiotic resistance. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) represents a unique disease model to study bacterial resistance and to explore therapeutic strategies, as in patients with CF chronic lung infections overlap with acute respiratory infections. These infections are caused by a multitude of organisms that traditionally evolve various mechanisms of resistance.  In CF infections, empiric intravenous antibiotics are usually given for two weeks. Recurrent infections and treatments result in increasing antimicrobial resistance. By using next-generation DNA sequencing technology, it is now possible to determine the organisms causing the infection. Using this knowledge the treatment of lung infection in Cystic Fibrosis patients can be tailored to the actual patient's needs.  CFMATTERS is the first randomized, controlled trial comparing the use of microbiome-directed antibiotic treatment versus standard therapy for patients with CF experiencing respiratory infections. The trial is coordinated by Prof. Barry Plant, University College Cork in Ireland and receives funding from the European Union under the 7th framework programme.