Spread of a multiresistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an adult cystic fibrosis clinic

We Initiated a prospective surveillance study to investigate possible Pseud omonas aeruginosa cross-infection In our cystic fibrosis centre. We charact erised isolates by pyocin typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. 22 ( 14%) of 154 patients with chronic P aeruginosa had Isolates with similar an d new pyocin and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types. The shared Isolate s showed unusual phenotypic features: they were non-pigmented, non-motile, and resistant to a number of antipseudomonal antibiotics. Cross-infection b y a multiresistant P aeruginosa strain has therefore occurred In patients a ttending our cystic fibrosis centre. We recommend microbiological surveilla nce in other cystic fibrosis centres.