Impact of Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus Infection on Inflammation and Clinical Status in Young Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Scott D. Sagel, Ronald L. Gibson, Julia Emerson, Sharon McNamara, Jane L. Burns, Jeffrey S. Wagener, Bonnie W. Ramsey, Michael Konstan, Barbara Chatfield, George Retsch-Bogart, David A. Waltz, James Acton, Pamela Zeitlin, Peter Hiatt, Richard Moss, Jeffrey Wagener, Greg Omlor, Drucy Borowitz, Margaret Rosenfeld

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus infection on lower airway inflammation and clinical status in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Study design: We studied 111 children age < 6 years who had 2 P aeruginosa-positive oropharyngeal cultures within 12 months. We examined bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) inflammatory markers (ie, cell count, differential, interleukin [IL]-8, IL-6, neutrophil elastase), CF-related bacterial pathogens, exotoxin A serology, and clinical indicators of disease severity. Results: Young children with CF with both upper and lower airway P aeruginosa infection had higher neutrophil counts, higher IL-8 and free neutrophil elastase levels, increased likelihood of positive exotoxin A titers, and lower Shwachman scores compared with those with positive upper airway cultures only. S aureus was associated with increased lower airway inflammation, and the presence of both P aeruginosa and S aureus had an additive effect on concentrations of lower airway inflammatory markers. BALF markers of inflammation were increased with the number of different bacterial pathogens detected. Conclusions: Young children with CF who have upper and lower airway P aeruginosa infection have increased endobronchial inflammation and poorer clinical status compared with those with only upper airway P aeruginosa infection. The independent and additive effects of S aureus on inflammation support the significance of polymicrobial infection in early CF lung disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183-188.e3
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume154
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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