Infection control in cystic fibrosis: Practical recommendations for the hospital, clinic, and social settings

The following is a synopsis of a 2-hour symposium entitled “Infection Control in Cystic Fibrosis: Practical Recommendations for the Hospital, Clinic, and Social Settings” held at the Cystic Fibrosis North American Meeting on October 17, 1998, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The symposium topic was requested by health care workers (HCWs) who have previously attended this annual meeting and are representative of members of the multidisciplinary team that care for patients with cystic fibrosis (ie, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and social workers). Two of the authors (L. S. and N. M.) served as co-chairpersons and selected the topics and speakers. Speakers were asked to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations. Topics included transmission of potential pathogens (eg, Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA], Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, nontuberculous mycobacteria, and viruses), care of the inanimate environment, and prevention of possible transmission in outpatient settings. Because patient-to-patient transmission of P aeruginosa remains controversial, a debate that used a point/counterpoint format was presented by two of the speakers (N. H. and D. S.).