[Ribotypes of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a patient with cystic fibrosis].

BACKGROUND

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the major causative agent of respiratory infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and its presence in sputum is related with important deterioration of lung function in affected patients, thus a methodical monitorization and control of such a microorganism is decisive in the clinical status of the patient. Due to the limited effectiveness of phenotypic subtyping techniques, it is necessary to use molecular characterization methods.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have studied the respiratory secretions periodically obtained over a period of time of 19 months, screening for total bacterial counts, P. aeruginosa load and genomic analysis of isolates using a ribotyping protocol.

RESULTS

This study has showed the chronical and transitory carriage of different strains and the relation of increased bacterial counts with clinical deterioration periods.

CONCLUSIONS

We consider that the use of molecular markers can be of great interest in the epidemiological surveillance of P. aeruginosa in CF patients.