Cystic Fibrosis Patient’s best friend? Potential Transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a Dog

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent autosomal recessive life threatening genetic disease in Caucasians. Pathogens like Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa persistently colonize about 70% of CF adults’ airways. Resulting chronic pulmonary infection and inflammation ultimately causes the life-limiting destruction of the lung in the majority of CF patients. In routine clinical care, efficient monitoring of pathogen colonization, lung function, and laboratory parameters is necessary to optimize the therapy. Thereby, detection of P. aeruginosa colonization, its eradication and elimination of reservoirs is crucial before the pathogen switches to a persistent mucoid phenotype.