Dissection of Staphylococcus Aureus Infection From Colonization in Cystic Fibrosis Patients, a Non-interventional, Prospective, Longitudinal Multicenter Study.
Dissection of Staphylococcus Aureus Infection From Colonization in Cystic Fibrosis Patients, a Non-interventional, Prospective, Longitudinal Multicenter Study.
Staphylococcus aureus is not only one of the first pathogens infecting the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, but also a highly prevalent microorganism (>60% of all CF patients; European and American CF registries; (4,25), which often persists for several years in the respiratory tract of CF patients.
The purpose of this study is to dissect infection by S. aureus from colonization. Therefore, the following non-interventional prospective, longitudinal multicenter study will be conducted to develop the following hypothesis:
CF patients with high bacterial loads are more likely to be infected by S. aureus than patients with low bacterial loads.
Primary endpoint: bacterial load of sputum cultures
Secondary endpoints:
Inclusion criteria: S. aureus cultures for more than 6 months within the last year, children (>6 years) and patients, who are able to perform lung function tests Exclusion criteria: P. aeruginosa and/or B. cepacia cultures from the specimens for more than 6 months within the last year before recruitment or during the study period In addition to microbiological investigations and clinical laboratory tests, the actual clinical situation will be evaluated and reported during the study period. The results of this observational study will be used to carefully plan a clinical interventional study. Furthermore, with the results it might be possible to characterize a subpopulation of patients, which is at greater risk for S. aureus infections.
Protocol synopsis Title: Dissection of Staphylococcus aureus infection from colonization in cystic fibrosis patients. A non-interventional prospective, 2-year longitudinal multicenter study
Study objectives: The aim of the study is to dissect S. aureus infection from colonization of the pathogen in airway secretions of CF patients during a 2 year period by means of a non-interventional, prospective, longitudinal multicenter study.
The following hypothesis will be developed:
CF patients with high bacterial loads are more likely to be infected by S. aureus than patients with low bacterial loads.
Definition of infection:
Primary endpoint: bacterial load of sputum cultures [high (>/= 106CFU/ml); low (<106CFU/ml)]
Secondary endpoints are:
Extensive microbiological investigations will be performed when the patients are seen at their regular visits in the outpatient clinics or if exacerbations occur. During the study period of 2 years, at least 8 visits to the outpatient clinic should be recorded. The following clinical parameters will be documented:
Design: non-interventional prospective, longitudinal multicenter study Planned number of patients/volunteers: 228 Inclusion criteria: positive S. aureus cultures for more than 6 months within the last year; children (>6 years) and patients with CF, who are able to perform lung function tests Exclusion criteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and/or Burkholderia cepacia colonization or infection for more than 6 months within the last year before recruitment; patients who have not been colonized with these pathogens before but acquire them within the study period and are colonized/infected for more than 6 months during the observation period
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: