Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the airways disease of cystic fibrosis.

The gram-negative organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa plays a major role in the morbidity and mortality of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Inherent properties of this organism, together with alterations in the CF airway, lead to colonization of the CF patient and, ultimately, contribute to the destructive lung lesion of CF. Innovative antibiotic therapies for the CF patient are discussed, including new potent oral and parenteral pseudomonicidal antibiotics, the re-emergence of nebulized delivery systems, and the validation of home intravenous therapy.