Pseudomonas aeruginosa transmission from food to CF patients?

Question

To eradicate P. aeruginosa from my airways an intravenous antibiotic therapy was necessary for the first time. This was so unpleasant that since then I try to avoid many potential sources of infection: I do not go to to ice-cream palours or coffee shops, I eat only with fork and knife and only use dishes form the dish washer which have been heated to 60°C. I do not eat food from bakeries, since the baker may have touched it with his hands. Are these measures meaningful or actually necessary?

Answer

Dear CF patient,

You have listed several potential transmission routes which could lead to infection in patients with CF. This list can be prolonged without difficulties, since P. aeruginosa is ubiquitous (everywhere) in humid environments. However, whether these sources actually cause infection in CF patients, is not known. as was already mentioned by Parazelsius, the dose is important. Translated: a large number of bacteria have to be present in order to infect a CF patient. Indeed, P. aeruginosa has been detected in several food items including ice-cream, cream and vegetables. Food-borne infections occur from times to times with other bacteria and virus when microbial growth is possible in the food. However, I do not agree to conclude that the presence of P. aeruginosa means infection and I would recommend that you do not loose your contact with the environment completely. That means, to stop your precautions since these precautions would reduce massively your quality of life. Dishes washed at 50°C is no source of P. aeruginosa transmission if dry. If you wash your hands and disinfect them if needed, you do not need to eat with fork and knife. Finally, I strongly recommend that your see your CF center quarterly to check your P. aeruginosa status and that you are not afraid of an intravenous therapy in the case of infection. In many cases, P. aeruginosa can be eradicated completely from the airways with antibiotics

I hope that this helps

Yours sincerely

Prof. Dr. Gerd Döring

17.11.2008