Epidemiology of cystic fibrosis respiratory pathogens isolated at a South African Hospital, 2006–2010

Abstract

Background: The epidemiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) associated pathogens other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the South African cystic fibrosis population has not been previously described.

Methods: A retrospective review of respiratory cultures taken from cystic fibrosis clinic patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital from 2006 to 2010 was performed.

Results: During the study period, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia complex and Candida albicans prevalence remained stable, Aspergillus fumigatus increased from 8% to 20% (p = 0.0132); Staphylococcus aureus decreased from 66% to 50% (p = 0.0243) and Haemophilus influenzae decreased from 13% to 3% (p = 0.0136). There were significant antimicrobial susceptibility changes to meropenem (p < 0.0001) amongst P. aeruginosa isolates and cloxacillin
(p < 0.0001) amongst S. aureus isolates. Prevalence of most bacterial pathogens appeared to increase with increasing age.

Conclusion: The findings of this study illustrate the epidemiology of CF associated respiratory pathogens and the trends in prevalence and susceptibility patterns over a 5-year period.