Pseudomonas

Question

Dear expert team,
I have just a few general questions:
1.) Does an infection with Pseudmonas inevitably lead to a worsening of the lung function?
2.) Or can the Pseudmonas be suppressed in such a way that he can not cause big damage?
3.) Are there in the near future therapies, which can eliminate the Pseudmonas?
Best regards and many thanks

Answer

Dear CF patient,
many thanks for your question. Indeed it is like this that a chronic infection with Pseudmonas can lead to a worsening of the lung function, this is however not true for all patients and is for sure also depended on the age of the Pseudmonas infection. In general, it is therefore like this, that especially in the childhood one tries to treat the Pseudomonas. This is mostly done by an inhalative antibiotic therapy (Tobramycin, Colistin) and aditionally antibiotic tablets (Ciprofloxacin) or in case of signs of an active, symptomatical infection aditionally intravenous therapy. With this it succeeds, however not always, to exterminate the Pseudmonas, resp. to keep them in check in the long runs, so that the damage can be kept as small as possible. Apart from Tobramycin and Colistin, there will be aditional antibiotics for inhalation in the near future (e.g. AZLI), which could also lead to an efficient suppression of Pseudmonas and therefore influence the course of the CF favourably.
It is therefore not mandatory, that the first infection with Pseudmonas leads to a rapid worsening of the lung function, in spite of that, especially in children and adolescents it should be tried, to exterminate these again, and in case this is not successfull, to keep them im check as long as possible with an inhalative antibiotic therapy.
Yours sincerely,
Dr.med. Markus Hofer

23.11.2009